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

Vienna, 26 January 1996

The International Press Institute (IPI) strongly condemns the killing of Oleg Slabynko, producer of the popular Russian television talk show, Moment of Truth.

We are informed that Mr. Slabynko was shot dead in his apartment by two men on Thursday, 25 January. Moment of Truth, which is broadcast on Russia’s second channel, is an evening talk show specializing in off-beat political interviews.

Mr. Slabynko’s murder follows closely that of Vadim Alferyev, a journalist working for Segodnyashnyaya Gazeta in Krasnoyarsk, who was beaten to death in the entrance to his apartment building on 27 December 1995. In March 1995, popular talk show host and executive director of Russian Public Television, Vladislav Listyev was shot dead by an unidentified gunman as he entered his Moscow apartment.

IPI, a global network of editors and media executives from newspapers, magazines, broadcasting organisations and news agencies in 85 countries, is deeply concerned that investigators have been unable to find the killers of either Mr. Alferyev or Mr. Listyev. We therefore strongly urge that you authorize an immediate and thorough investigation into the killing of Mr. Slabynko and that those responsible for this crime are brought to justice. We further urge that you disclose any findings with regard to the above murders and that all possible steps are taken to protect the safety of journalists working in Russia.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director