Paul Klebnikov / Frame from Rossia Channel
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued an open letter President
Vladimir Putin, urging him to address what it called the climate of lawlessness
and impunity that has led to the killings of more than a dozen journalists
in Russia, most recently Forbes editor Paul Klebnikov.
The letter, published on the group's site, called on the president to
do "everything in your power" to ensure a thorough and aggressive
investigation into the slaying.
"This culture of impunity sends a shocking message to the world
about your indifference to press freedom, and reassures those who use
violence to silence their critics that they can literally get away with
murder," Executive Director Ann Cooper said in her letter to Putin.
Klebnikov is the 15th journalist to be killed in Russia in connection
with his work since 2000. No one has been brought to justice in any of
the slayings, CPJ said, calling it a "shameful record" that
endangers all journalists and undermines Russia's democracy.
"These and other cases have not been properly investigated or prosecuted,
a testament to the ongoing lawlessness in Russia and your failure to reform
the country's weak and politicized criminal justice system," the
letter said.
See also:
Freedom
of Speech and Media Law in Russia
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