(CJES/IFEX) – The following is a joint action signed by 10 IFEX members: His Excellency President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin President of the Russian Federation g. Moskva, Kreml Russian Federation Fax: +7 095 206 85 10/+7 095 206 51 73/+7 095 230 24 08 Your Exellency, We, the undersigned members of the International Freedom of Expression […]
(CJES/IFEX) – The following is a joint action signed by 10 IFEX members:
His Excellency
President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin
President of the Russian Federation
g. Moskva, Kreml
Russian Federation
Fax: +7 095 206 85 10/+7 095 206 51 73/+7 095 230 24 08
Your Exellency,
We, the undersigned members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), are expressing deep alarm in connection with the cynical slaying of Anna Politkovskaya, a reporter for the independent weekly “Novaya Gazeta”, which occurred on October 7, 2006. Independent journalism is one of the foundations of democracy, and therefore the killing of a journalist for the honest fulfilment of her professional duties is a blow to democracy.
We are asking you to do everything for the investigation into this crime. When the people responsible for it are brought to justice, it will be a confirmation of Russia’s adherence to the principles of the supremacy of law and democracy.
Resolving this crime is vital to enable journalists, who are experiencing persecution, to feel safe. It is necessary to put an end to permissiveness and impunity, as a result of which journalists are getting hurt.
We also demand that specific steps be taken to create normal working conditions for journalists and human rights activists in Russia.
Sincerely,
Association of Independent Electronic Media, ANEM
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE)
Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations (CJES)
Fundacion para la Libertad de Prensa (FLIP)
International Press Institute (IPI)
International PEN – Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC)
Media Watch
PEN American Center
Norwegian PEN
World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, (AMARC)
World Press Freedom Committee (WPFC)