The death of yet another prominent Russian investigative journalist (Russian journalist who angered Russia's military falls to death, March 6) raises concern about the safety of all independent journalism in President Putin's Russia. Death threats are becoming the - sinister - everyday fare for any reporter in Russia who dares to probe sensitive topics.
For example, Oksana Chelysheva and Stanislav Dmitrievskii, two journalists who have sought to investigate human-rights abuses in Chechnya, have both been vilified and threatened. Their offices have been closed down under new repressive legislation and they fear for their lives and livelihoods.
Independent journalism in Russia is dying. If President Putin is to begin to revive it we need to see a proper investigation into Ivan Safronov's death, and the killers of other journalists like Anna Politkovskaya to be brought to justice.
Source: The Guardian
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