The head of the United Nations agency mandated to defend press freedom today
voiced renewed concern over the safety of journalists in the Caucasus
region, this time citing the deaths of two newsmen in the Russian Federation.
"I am deeply shocked about the all too numerous reports of violent attacks
against journalists in the Caucasus," UN Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura
said in a news release. "I call on all authorities in the
region to do everything they can to improve the safety of media workers."
Abdullah Alishaev from the Republic of Dagestan, who reported on religious
affairs for the local television station TV-Chirkei, died on 3 September
from wounds sustained when he was shot by unknown assailants the previous
evening in Dagestan's provincial capital, Makhachkala.
Magomed Yevloyev, the founder, owner and former editor-in-chief of the
independent news website www.ingushetiya.ru, died after he was detained by
the police on his return to Ingushetia from a visit to Moscow on 31 August.
Police brought him to hospital where he died from gunshot wounds to the
head.
"The killings of journalists are crimes against society as a whole as they
deal a blow to freedom of expression and access to independent information
for the people of the region," Mr. Matsuura said. "I trust that the
investigation launched by the authorities will allow the culprits to be
brought to justice."
Last month he deplored the killing of at least three journalists in the
fighting in Georgia between Georgian, Russian and South Ossetian forces.
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