Reporters without Borders Urge Serious Investigation into Vasil Hrodnikau’s Death

23.11.2005.

This is the information provided by the press service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists"
On November 22 the international organization Reporters without Borders called on the Belarusian authorities to conduct a serious investigation into the potentially violent death of the journalist Vasil Hrodnikau. The organization brings attention to the appearance of the new evidence in the case since the last police investigations.
“Hrodnikau worked on a rather risky theme before he died, and what is not rare for Belarus is when journalists become targets of intimidation or physical violence as they investigate themes some people would prefer to keep secret”, said the Reporters.
They remind that Mr. Hrodnikau had been working on the article entitled "Cheaters 3” devoted to apartment manipulations, and that the notebook found on a table in Hrodnikau's house contained a sketch of the article entitled "Secure Office or Several Tough Questions for the President of the Republic and his Subordinated Services".
Dzmitry Kirylchyk, the procurator’s office investigator, in charge of the investigation, told the Reporters representatives that the previous investigation could be finished before December 18. At the start the investigators must receive the results of a forensic medical examination. But the decision regarding the launch of criminal proceedings can be taken even before this date.
The Reporters remind that the investigation into the murder of Veranika Charkasava in October 2004 and the disappearance of the cameraman Dzmitry Zavadski in Jule 2000 has not made any progress.

Add commentary

Comments