Murder Of Russian Journalist Raises High-Level Concern

(AP Photo)

The folks at Editor & Publisher are following all the developments in the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, a government critic who was gunned down over the weekend. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Politkovskaya was the 43rd Russian journalist murdered since 1993, making it the third most dangerous country for reporters, the group claims. But this particular incident has gained a high profile because of Politkovskaya's critical reporting on Russia's ongoing fight in Chechnya – so high, the Russian has weighed in. According to the Associated Press:

Russian President Vladimir Putin broke his silence Monday about the brazen daylight murder of investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya, pledging the authorities would do everything to find the killers of the fierce Kremlin critic.
In a phone conversation with U.S. President George W. Bush, Putin pledged that "all necessary efforts will be made for an objective investigation into the tragic death" of the journalist, the Kremlin said.
Putin's remarks were his first statement on the slaying, since Politkovskaya, a 48-year-old award-winning reporter who uncovered abuses against civilians in Chechnya, was gunned down in her apartment building Saturday in an apparent contract killing.
Her newspaper has offered a million-dollar reward for information that would help solve the crime, which provoked worldwide condemnation and shone the spotlight on Russia as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists.

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