(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has welcomed the reopening of the investigation into the October 2003 murder of journalist Alexei Sidorov. The organisation voiced concern, however, that the local prosecutor’s office is still in charge of the case and reiterated its call for the investigation to be transferred to the federal prosecutor-general. The reopening of the case […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has welcomed the reopening of the investigation into the October 2003 murder of journalist Alexei Sidorov. The organisation voiced concern, however, that the local prosecutor’s office is still in charge of the case and reiterated its call for the investigation to be transferred to the federal prosecutor-general.
The reopening of the case was announced on 14 February by Samara regional deputy prosecutor Evgeni Novojilov. According to a report in the daily “Izvestia”, Novojilov said that two new leads that were unrelated to those previously pursued would be followed. He added that one involved a well known regional criminal organisation, but gave no further details.
While welcoming the reopening of the case, RSF again called on federal Prosecutor-General Vladimir Ustinov “to personally take over the investigation in order to guarantee its transparency and objectivity.”
