World

Russia Under Fire Over Journalist

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

February 1, 2000 / 7:05 AM EST / CBS

The whereabouts of Andrei Babitsky, a Russian journalist working for U.S.-funded Radio Liberty, remained a mystery Thursday, amid a flurry of reports that cast doubt on official versions of the events leading to his disappearance.

Babitsky, one of only a handful of reporters to cover the conflict from rebel-held territory, had brought unprecedented attacks from angry Russian officials. He has been at the center of a political and diplomatic outcry since Russian forces arrested him last month. Russian forces said last week they had turned him over to Chechen rebels in a prisoner exchange.

Radio Liberty head Mario Corti told CBS News that he had received information indicating that Babitsky was being held captive in cell by pro-Moscow militiamen in Chechnya's second-largest city, Gudermes.

One of the reporter's former cellmates passed on a message. "This person told us he was being beaten with tools that don't leave traces," Corti said.

Conti also said the Russian video in which he was apparently handed to Chechen rebels was a fake.

"That was staged, all the experts say that. The main thing is that these guys are masked so there is no way we can tell, It is hardly plausible a Chechen fighter would wear a mask. They like very much to show their faces. That is very much in their mentality," Corti said.

Rebel chief Bislan Gantamirov said that neither he nor his people had detained or arrested Babitsky.

"All reports on this and accusations against us are a total invention, the aim of which is to increase tension and discredit me personally and the fighters of our militia," he said.

Russian television networks broadcast tape of Babitsky allegedly made on Monday. In it he says "I'm relatively okay. I want all this to end as soon as possible."

The U.S. State Department issued a strong statement on Wednesday urging an investigation and asking "Russian officials to come clean" and punish those guilty of wrongful acts in the Babitsky case.