OSCE media freedom representative welcomes Russian journalists' initiative to tackle violence against the press

VIENNA, 6 May 2009 - In a letter to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, welcomed today Russian civil and parliamentary initiatives to fight violence against journalists, but also called on law enforcement authorities to act vigorously to ensure that the perpetrators are denied impunity.

Haraszti wrote the letter following the 29 April beating of Vyacheslav Yaroshenko, the chief editor of the newspaper Corruption and Crime. The beating, which left Yaroshenko in critical condition with head injuries, was the latest attack against a journalist in Russia.

"I welcome the pledge by Russia's Union of Journalists to carry out an independent investigation into this attack. I also welcome the recent joint initiative by the Russian Union of Journalists and the State Duma Committee on Information Policy to create an investigative journalism agency in response to widespread violence against Russian journalists," said Haraszti.

"International experience demonstrates that the surest way to improve journalists' safety is when journalists take the matter in their own hands."

At least four other journalists have been seriously assaulted this year in Russia: Anastasia Baburova, Sergey Protazanov, Vadim Rogozhin and Maksim Zolotarev. Baburova and Protazanov died from injuries suffered in the attacks. No progress in the investigations has been reported.

"Oppressive laws or rampant violence against journalists will not be able to induce self-censorship when journalists co-operate in fighting both," added Haraszti.

"At the same time, I must reiterate that it is the role of the law enforcement authorities to take the lead in investigating this latest violent case, as well as all other pending cases, and to bring to justice those responsible."