(RSF/IFEX) – Farid Omar, a correspondent for the Afghan service of the American station Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE) in Moscow, is in critical condition after being stabbed at the entrance to his apartment block on 2 July 2004. RSF is deeply concerned about this second attack against an RFE journalist in the Russian capital, […]
(RSF/IFEX) – Farid Omar, a correspondent for the Afghan service of the American station Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE) in Moscow, is in critical condition after being stabbed at the entrance to his apartment block on 2 July 2004.
RSF is deeply concerned about this second attack against an RFE journalist in the Russian capital, and has called on Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliev to ensure that a possible link with his profession is not ruled out in the investigation. Omar’s attackers did not take the money he had on him.
Omar had been reporting on clan rivalries in Afghanistan and within the diaspora, as well as on political events in Russia. The journalist had been critical of the lack of democratic progress in Russia, denouncing the Russian government’s attitude towards civil society and the independent press.
Omar’s close colleague Amin Matin said there were two possible scenarios to be considered, a racist attack or a reprisal for the journalist’s critical stance towards the Russian authorities.
On 30 April, Mukhamed Berdiev, correspondent in Moscow for the Turkmen service of the same station, was beaten by unknown assailants at his home. He was found three days later with injuries to his head, eyes and ribs (see IFEX alert of 6 May 2004).
