Russia: Jihadist propagandist offers reward for killing Russian journalists

A jihadist propagandist offered on his Telegram channel a 50,000$ reward for the killing of two Russian journalists covering the Syrian war. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joined its affiliate, the Russian Union of Journalists (RUJ), in expressing deep concerns over the threats and calling on the VGTRK media company to ensure their safety.

Credit: MAX DELANY / AFP A picture taken during a press tour organized by the Russian Army shows Russian journalists working next to a Russian soldier talking with Syrians on April 8, 2016 in al-Qaryatain

According to media reports, a reward of 25,000$ was offered to militants who kill Russian war correspondents Evgeny Poddubnyy or Oleg Blokhin.

 

Podbubnyy and Blokhin are covering the Syrian war from the frontline.

RUJ Executive Secretary and IFJ Vice President, Timur Shafir said: “We are deeply concerned about this situation. We call on the VGTRK media company board to ensure the safety of Russian correspondents».

IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: “We call on authorities and the VGTRK media to do their utmost to protect our colleagues from this appalling threat. War correspondents do a heroic job by reporting on the reality of war and their safety must be guaranteed”.

For more information, please contact IFJ on +32 2 235 22 16

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 146 countries

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