(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Interior Minister Vladimir Ruchailo, RSF expressed its concern further to the disappearance of journalist Vladimir Yatsin in North Ossetia, and asked that – under the minister’s direct authority – all necessary measures be taken to secure his release. “Vladimir Yatsin is the second journalist to disappear in the region […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Interior Minister Vladimir Ruchailo, RSF
expressed its concern further to the disappearance of journalist Vladimir
Yatsin in North Ossetia, and asked that – under the minister’s direct
authority – all necessary measures be taken to secure his release. “Vladimir
Yatsin is the second journalist to disappear in the region since the
beginning of this year, and it is feared that the triggering of an armed
conflict in Dagestan may render the press freedom situation in the Russian
Caucasus region even more difficult,” suggested Robert Ménard, RSF’s
secretary-general, before recalling that in 1997, at least thirteen
journalists were kidnapped in the region and released in return for a
ransom.
On 13 August 1999, Yatsin, a photographer with the Itar-Tass press agency,
was pronounced disappeared in the Nazran region of North Ossetia (a
secessionist republic in the Russian Caucasus region). It is likely that he
was kidnapped. The journalist left Moscow on 20 July. No contact has been
established with him since that date. Previously, on 28 March, Said Issayev,
a correspondent with the Itar-Tass press agency in Chechnya, was kidnapped
from his residence in Grozny. He was released in June (see IFEX alerts of 24
June, 20 April, 31 March and 30 March 1999). Since the mass kidnappings of
journalists in 1997, the Russian Caucasus region has become one of the most
dangerous regions in the world for reporters.
