Journalist Yakhya Magomedov of the Russian Islamic newspaper As-Salam was killed on 8 May in the North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, Russian media outlet RIA Novosti reported. He was shot four times near the northern city of Khasavyurt at around 22:30, media freedom observers reported.

His death follows an attack on 5 May against Magomed Khanmagomedov, a correspondent for the independent weekly Chernovik, based in the country’s capital Makhachkala. According to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the reporter was attacked while collecting material for his latest report. In November 2010, also while working on a newspaper assignment, Khanmagomedov was allegedly assaulted by employees at the local mayor’s office.

IPI Press Freedom Manager Anthony Mills said: “The North Caucasus remains an extremely dangerous place for journalists, as does Russia as a whole. Unfortunately, most killings of journalists remain shrouded in a cloak of impunity, emboldening future killers.”

The events of the past days have once again highlighted Russia’s reputation for being one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. IPI’s Death Watch count indicates that since 2000, close to 40 reporters have been killed in the country. Impunity remains the greatest obstacle to press freedom in the country.

In August 2009, Dagestan-based newspaper editor Malik Akhmedilov was found dead in his car near Makhachkala with bullet wounds to the stomach. Previous cases include the murder of Gadzhi Abashilov of the State Television & Radio Broadcasting Company in March 2008 and of Dagestani journalist Abdulla Telman Alishayev later the same year.

Other high-profile killings of Russian journalists outside of Dagestan include the murder of Paul Klebnikov, the editor-in-chief of Forbes’ Russian edition, in 2004, and the murder of Anna Politkovskaya who was shot dead in 2006.