OSCE Representative welcomes convictions for murder of Russian journalist

VIENNA, 31 March 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed the sentences of two people for the murder of newspaper editor Abdulmalik Akhmedilov in August 2009 in Makhachkala, in the Russian Republic of Dagestan. 

According to reports, on 30 March the Leninskiy District Court in Makhachkala sentenced shooter Murad Shuaibov to ten and a half years and getaway driver Isa Abdurakhmanov to eight years in prison for the murder.

Akhmedilov, a deputy editor of the Makhachkala-based daily Hakikat and the chief editor of the Sogratl newspaper, was known for criticizing federal and local law enforcement officials for violating human rights in the fight against extremists (see //www.osce.org/fom/51238)

Mijatović also took note of reports that the mastermind of the murder of Igor Domnikov, a Novaya Gazeta journalist killed in 2000, had been identified by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. Mijatovic said she will continue to follow the progress of the prosecution closely.

“I hope that the authorities will do their utmost to investigate and solve all remaining cases of attacks on journalists in Russia,” Mijatović said.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.