H. E. Boris Yeltsin
President of Russia
Moscow
Russian Federation

Vienna, 13 May 1996

The International Press Institute (IPI) strongly condemns the killing of Nina Yefimova, a Russian journalist working in Chechnya.

Ms. Yefimova, a correspondent for the local Russian-language newspaper Vozrozhdeniye (Revival), and her mother were abducted from their apartment on the outskirts of Grozny on 8 May 1996. Ms.Yefimova was found dead from a pistol shot to the back of the head on the morning of Thursday, 9 May, while her mother’s body was found on Thursday night.

We understand that a local law-enforcement officer claimed that Ms. Yefimova’s murder was committed for “private reasons.” However, journalists in Russia believe her assassination was related to stories she had published about crime in Chechnya.

Ms. Yefimova is the second journalist to be killed in Chechnya in recent weeks. On 11 April, the body of Nadezhda Chaikova, a correspondent for the weekly newspaper Obshchaya Gazeta, was found in the Chechen village of Geikhi. She had been beaten, blindfolded, and shot in the back of the head.

IPI, a global network of editors and media executives from newspapers, magazines, broadcasting organisations and news agencies in 85 countries, is most concerned about the failure of Russian authorities to adequately investigate the murders of journalists in Chechnya. We strongly urge Your Excellency to authorize an immediate and thorough investigation into the murder of Ms. Yefimova and to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. We further urge that you disclose any findings with regard to the murder of Ms. Chaikova and that all possible steps are taken to protect the safety of journalists attempting to cover events in Chechnya.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director