The

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its European group, the

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), have strongly condemned the murder of

prominent journalist Akhmednabi Akmednabiyev in Dagestan, in Russia's North

Caucasus, early yesterday morning, Tuesday 9 July.

According to

media reports, Akmednabiyev was in his car, just 50 meters from his home, at

7am when the unknown attackers began shooting, killing him at the scene. The

attackers then fled the scene in their car.

"We express

our deep sadness following the murder of our colleague, the highly respected

and prominent journalist Akhmednabi Akmednabiyev," said IFJ President Jim

Boumelha. "This is the latest in several killings of journalists that have

shaken the region over the past two years and shows the dangerous conditions

that journalists there have to work in every day.

"We call on

the authorities in the region to carry out an investigation to find the

perpetrators of this horrific crime and bring the full weight of justice down

upon them. Such crimes cannot go unpunished."

Media reports

say that Akhmednabiyev, who was deputy chief editor of local weekly newspaper,

Novoye Delo (New Business), had written articles criticising

local authorities and insurgent groups. He is said to have received repeated

death threats and in January of this year he survived an attempt on his life when

attackers also fired shots at his car.

The killing comes just

weeks after the IFJ and its Russian affiliate, the Russian Federation of

Journalists (RUJ), completed a two week training of safety trainers course

for journalists in Dagestan as part of our efforts to address the terrible

threats that continue to plague journalists throughout this region. The

training was supported by the Norwegian government and the European Commission.

The RUJ has

expressed its deep sadness at the loss of a colleague and called for increased

protection for journalists working in the region.

"The wave of

violence against journalists in this region over the last two years is an

attempt to terrorise those in the media and undermine freedom of expression," said

EFJ Vice-President Nadezda Azhgikhina. "The authorities must take action to

protect the safety of journalists, news owners in the region must take measures

to protect their staff, and the journalists themselves need to ensure they

remain vigilant."

For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 17
The IFJ represents more than 600.000 journalists in 134

countries