Journalists and the media remained under intense pressure in 2010, according to GDF, being subjected to attacks, criminal prosecution, threats, censorship and detention.
(GDF/IFEX) – 11 January 2011 – The position of Russia’s media and journalists remained unchanged in 2010 compared with the previous year.
Despite continued pledges by officials at different levels to crack down on those who attempt to restrict media freedoms, journalists and the media remained under pressure in the form of attacks, criminal prosecution, threats, censorship, and the detention of journalists while doing their professional work. Among the major negative trends, one may point to the ever more frequent detention of reporters covering street protests; the dismissal of editors; and the closure of media outlets. Although fewer than in 2009, a fairly large number of newspapers ceased operating in 2010.
In all, 1,590 media-related conflicts were recorded in 2010 (versus 1,537 in 2009; 1,450 in 2008; 1,502 in 2007; and 1,345 in 2006).
Deaths of journalists – 12 (Ivan Stepanov, former correspondent, “Zabaikalsky Rabochiy” newspaper, Transbaikal Region; Maxim Zuyev, former reporter, “Kaliningradskaya Pravda” newspaper, Kaliningrad; Shamil Aliyev, founder and director of Priboi and Vatan radio stations, Makhachkala; Sayid Ibragimov, director, TBC television network, Republic of Dagestan; Dmitry Okkert, editor and presenter of the “Expert” TV news show, Moscow; Bella Ksalova, correspondent, Caucasian Knot news agency, Karachai-Cherkess Republic; Malika Betiyeva, correspondent, “DOSH” magazine, Chechnya; Magomedvagif (Sultan) Sultan Magomedov, editor-in-chief, Makhachkala-TV television company; Dayan Shakirov, freelance reporter, “Chelyabinsky Rabochiy” newspaper, Kirov Region; Yevgeny Fedotov, correspondent, “Ekstra” newspaper, Chita; Anatoly Yurov, editor-in-chief, “Grazhdanskoye Schastye” newspaper, Moscow Region; Andrei Mertins, cameraman, for Vostok-TV, Neo-TV and TVN television networks, Maritime Region).
The number of journalists’ deaths recorded in 2009 was 9; 5 in 2008; 8 in 2007; and 9 in 2006.
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