(IPI/IFEX) – IPI is strongly condemning the kidnapping of a correspondent working for Itar-Tass news agency. According to IPI’s sources, unidentified armed men broke into the house of Said Isayev, a Chechen who has worked for the Russian news agency for five years, and seized the journalist on late Sunday, 28 March 1999. **For background […]
(IPI/IFEX) – IPI is strongly condemning the kidnapping of a
correspondent
working for Itar-Tass news agency. According to IPI’s sources,
unidentified
armed men broke into the house of Said Isayev, a Chechen who has worked
for
the Russian news agency for five years, and seized the journalist on
late
Sunday, 28 March 1999.
**For background on Masyuk’s kidnapping see IFEX alerts of 11 August, 8
August, 23 May, 13 May, 30 April and 5 March 1997**
Since the kidnapping of journalists began in January 1997, foreign
correspondents have stopped going into Chechnya and media organisations
rely
on Chechen nationals, but even they are at risk from kidnappers who
typically seek large ransoms. In August 1997, the Russian television
station, NTV, paid a ransom of US$2 million for the release of
television
journalist Elena Masyuk and her two-man crew after 101 days in
captivity.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the President:
freed
immediately and that those responsible are brought to justice
working
conditions for journalists covering events in Chechnya
Appeals To
His Excellency Aslan Maskhadov
President
Grozny, Chechen Republic
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
