UNESCO chief deplores killing of Russian journalist, urges full investigation

The head of the UN agency mandated to defend press freedom today condemned the death of journalist Timur Kuashev in Russia and called for a thorough investigation.

In a press statement released from her officer, the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, called for a detailed inquiry into the death of the journalist Timur Kuashev in Kabardino-Balkaria.

“It is important for press freedom and for journalists to be able to carry out their professional duties without fearing for their lives. I trust that the authorities will spare no efforts in shedding light into the circumstances of the death of Timur Kuashev,” the Director-General said.

Mr. Kuashev, 26, was a correspondent for Dosh, a current affairs magazine about the North Caucasus. He also wrote for Caucasian Knot and Caucasus Politics, web portals covering the region.

His body was found in the suburbs of Nalchik, the capital of Kabardina-Balkaria on 1 August, one day after he had gone missing. Kuashev is reported to have received numerous threats to his life in recent years.

According to UNESCO, more than 430 journalists have been killed between 2007 and 2012. The UN agency maintains a webpage dedicated to condemning the killing of journalists, in line with Resolution 29, adopted by its Member States in 1997.