The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned two attacks in the Russian Caucasus region that left one journalist dead and another seriously injured and warned that a string of attacks is making the region one of the most dangerous places in the world for media.

"The level of violence against media in the Caucasus region is reaching shocking levels and we are calling on government leaders, particularly in Russia, to make sure that it does not continue unchecked," said IFJ General Secretary Aidan White. "Our colleagues all over the region are getting caught in the middle of political and religious disputes. We fear for their safety and we fear that independent reporting and press freedom are being dealt a harsh blow."

Abdullah Alishaev, a reporter dealing with religious affairs at local television station TV-Chirkei and who has reported on Islamic fundamentalists' activities, died today from wounds sustained when he was shot by unknown assailants on Tuesday evening as he was driving through Dagestan's provincial capital, Makhachkala.

The Associated Press is also reporting that newspaper editor Miloslav Bitokov was attacked by three people outside his home in the city of Nalchik in North Caucasus on Tuesday evening and was in hospital with skull injuries. His colleagues at his newspaper Gazeta Yuga told the AP that Bitokov had received threats for publishing articles critical of local authorities.

These latest attacks follow the killing on Sunday in Ingushetia of Magomed Yevloyev, a web site owner critical of the government. He was shot in the head by police who claimed it was an accident. His family and colleagues have disputed the official explanation and the IFJ is calling for an independent investigation into his death.

Violence against Russian journalists has been widespread. At least 292 journalists have been killed or have disappeared in the country since 1990 with only a handful of perpetrators being convicted.

The Caucasus region, which includes southern Russia; autonomous Russian republics including North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya, and Dagestan; and the countries Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, has been a particularly dangerous place for media covering the political situation there.

At least five media workers were killed in the Georgian conflict in August. Journalists in Azerbaijan have frequently been targeted for beatings, harassment and arrest by police. In 2006, the international journalism community was shocked by the killing in Moscow of Anna Politkovskaya, the Russian reporter who was a fierce critic of Russia's war in Chechnya.

For more information contact the IFJ at +32 2 235 2207

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries worldwide