IFJ Presses Moscow for Return of Bodies of Media Casualties to Their Families

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today pressed Russia to facilitate the return of the bodies of two Georgian journalists killed at the weekend to their families in Georgia.

 

The IFJ supports the calls of the families and colleagues of the two victims, Alexander Klimchuk, a photojournalist working for Russian news agency Itar-Tass and the owner of independent photo agency Caucasus Press Images, and Grigol Chikhladze, a reporter for Russian Newsweek, that their bodies should be transferred for decent burial.

 

The IFJ says that its affiliate in Moscow, the Russian Union of Journalists, has taken up this case with the Russian government.

 

"This is a tragic and terrible event and it is only right that the families are able to have the bodies of their loved ones returned to them," said Paco Audije, IFJ Deputy General Secretary. "We will continue to press for Russia to respond urgently to this request."

 

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

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