OSCE media freedom representative welcomes conviction of architect of murder of Novaya Gazeta journalist

VIENNA, 20 December 2013 - OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed the conviction of the person who ordered the murder of Igor Domnikov, a Novaya Gazeta journalist killed in 2000.

“I am pleased that justice has been served and the person who devised the plan against Domnikov has been convicted. There can be no impunity for crimes committed against journalists,” Mijatović said.

Domnikov’s assailants were arrested and convicted in August 2007. The Moscow district court today handed down a seven years sentence to Pavel Sopot as the orchestrator of the attack.

“I urge the Russian authorities to continue investigating all cases of violence and threats against members of the media. Such incidents can only be prevented if those ultimately responsible are identified and prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” Mijatović said.

Mijatović today also welcomed the potential granting of amnesty to members of the punk band Pussy Riot, who were convicted in 2012 on hooliganism charges. In August last year, responding to the verdict, Mijatovic warned of a tendency toward curbing freedom of expression.

Mijatović also expressed hope that charges against the journalists covering the Greenpeace action at Gazprom’s Prirazlomnaya platform in the Barents Sea earlier this year would be dropped.

Mijatović has previously raised these two issues with Russian authorities. See http ://www.osce.org/fom/105790 and //www.osce.org/fom/92939