His Excellency Vladimir Putin
Acting President of the Russian Federation
Moscow
Russia

Vienna, 28 January 2000

Your Excellency,

On behalf of the International Press Institute – the global network of editors and media executives dedicated to promoting and defending freedom of the press – I am writing to you to express our deep concern about the fate of Andrei Babitsky, a correspondent with Radio Free Europe/Radio Free Liberty.

According to RFE/RE, Babitsky, who was reporting on the conflict in Chechnya, was last heard of on January 15. His wife, Lyudmila Babitskaya, has made it known that Russian secret service agents raided their Moscow apartment on January 8 and seized photographs he had taken of Russian soldiers who had been killed in the Chechen conflict. At the end of December, 1999, the Russian Information Centre had accused Babitsky of conspiring with Chechen rebels after he produced a broadcast which was critical of the Russian government’s policy in Chechnya.

While sources within the Russian defence ministry have claimed that Russian forces are not holding Babitsky, several independent reports indicate that this is, in fact, not true. The Interfax news agency, for example, reported today that Babitsky has been detained by Russian authorities and charged with “participating in an armed formation.” According to the Interfax report, Babitsky has been charged under Article 208, section 2, of the Russian Federation Criminal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.

The Glasnost Defence Foundation has been informed that Babitsky is being held by Russian forces in a cellar in the Russian-controlled town of Urus-Martan in Chechnya.

We find these reports deeply disturbing and we urge you to order an immediate and thorough investigation into the matter, and to ensure that, if, as widely reported, Babitsky is being detained by Russian forces, that he is released immediately and unconditionally. We further urge you, on behalf of the Russian Government, to make an unequivocal statement declaring your administration’s commitment to the principles of free expression.

I thank you in advance for your prompt attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director