By Christina Berger
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
MOSCOW, Russia — A leading Russian journalist was attacked last weekend and was in critical condition, finally regaining consciousness on Friday. Oleg Kashin, a journalist for the newspaper Kommersant who often wrote politically themed articles, was severely beaten outside of his Moscow home.
Kashin suffered a concussion, a broken jaw, broken fingers, and fractures in both legs. He was put into a medically induced coma as a result. Kashin regained consciousness on Friday, though he remains on a ventilator according to his wife.
A video purportedly showing the brutal assault on Kashin can be viewed on a Russian news site. The video shows two men beating a third over 50 times with something like an iron bar or a similar weapon. Kashin’s editor believes the fact that the attackers mangled Kashin’s hands and broke off part of his pinky indicate the attack is related to Kashin’s writing.
Kashin is the last in a line of a growing trend of attacks against journalists in Russia. The New York Times calls the attacks “common” and convictions of attackers “rare in its deeply flawed judicial system.”
According to statements by President Medvedev, the Kremlin is taking this seriously, vowing to find and punish the attackers. Many people view this as a test for how serious the Kremlin is in cracking down on the intimidation of journalists.
In light of this recent attack, a group of Russian journalists have written an open letter to President Medvedev, calling on him to make protecting journalists a priority. The letter says that eight Russian journalists have been killed this year and 40 have been attacked.
The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers and the World Editors Forum also called on President Medvedev, urging him to make sure the attacks on journalists are aggressively prosecuted in light of the unsolved attacks and murders against journalists in the past.
In response to the attack on Kashin, Amnesty International released a statement, urging that, while the motivations of the attackers are not known, the possibility that the attacks are connected to the victims’ profession and views be investigated. John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Europe said, “These fresh assaults should not be left to join a long list of unsolved crimes against journalists and civil society activists. They must be investigated, and those responsible brought to justice, including any people who ordered the attacks.”
Joel Simon, the executive director for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a statement, “By failing to prosecute those who have carried out crimes against journalists in the past — including 19 murders committed in the Putin era — the Russian government has created a climate of impunity.” He added, “Government statements and expressions of sympathy are simply not sufficient. Arrests, prosecutions and convictions are what are urgently needed.”
According to CPJ reports, Russia is one of the world’s most dangerous nations for reporters.
For more information, please see:
NYT — Russia: Brutally Beaten Journalist Regains Consciousness, Wife Says — 12 November 2010
GUARDIAN — Russian journalist attacked with iron bar regains consciousness — 12 November 2010
GUARDIAN — Global newspapers to Russia’s president – start protecting journalists — 10 November 2010
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL — Greater protection for Russian journalists urged — 8 November 2010
NYT — Video of Russian Journalist’s Beating — 8 November 2010
BBC — Russian president vows action after reporters attacked — 8 November 2010
CNN — Russian journalist in critical condition after attack — 7 November 2010
AP — Russian reporter in coma after beating in Moscow — 6 November 2010
NYT — Russian Journalist Beaten in Moscow — 6 November 2010
BBC — Leading Russian reporter Oleg Kashin attacked in Moscow — 6 November 2010
