OSCE media watchdog concerned over murder of Russian journalist

VIENNA, 13 October 2003 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Freimut Duve, was shocked by the 9 October murder of Russian newspaper editor Alexei Sidorov, who was fatally stabbed by two men who ambushed him in the car park of his apartment building in Toliatti, Samara Region. His predecessor as editor of the local weekly Toliatinskoie Obosrenie, Valery Ivanov, was also murdered on 29 April 2002.

"This latest vicious attack against press freedom in Russia once again raises serious concerns about the state of free media in the country," Freimut Duve said. "I agree with the statement issued by the Ministry of Information that this was "a deliberate act of terror against the independent mass media." I expect the authorities to do their utmost, as they have promised publicly, to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice."

Sidorov's colleagues believe that his murder was linked to his professional work, according to several non-governmental organizations. Toliatinskoie Obosrenie regularly investigated politics, corruption and organized crime. The local prosecutor in Tolliatti has launched a murder investigation. Russian Interior minister Boris Gryzlov has been quoted as saying that clearing up this murder case is "a matter of honour."

"Censorship by killing, like the murder in Toliatti, fosters a climate of self-censorship and undermines any meaningful investigative journalism," Duve said. "The watchdog function of the media in this situation ceases to exist. In the end, government-business corruption flourishes if there is no public scrutiny."