Russia can be a deadly place for journalists trying to shed light on the crime lords.
At least 124 of them were killed between 1993 and 2009 as they investigated the government or the Russian mafia, said the International Federation of Journalists. Among those whose killer or killers have not yet been found are:
NATALIA ESTEMIROVA, 50
Freelance. Killed: July 15, 2009. Grozny, Chechnya
KIDNAPPED by gunmen, her bullet-riddled body was later found. Her criticism of corruption and human rights violations is believed to have led to her death.
ANASTASIA BABUROVA, 25
Novaya Gazeta. Killed: January 19, 2009. Moscow
SHOT at point blank range while talking to human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov, also killed.
ANNA POLITKOVSKAYA, 48
Novaya Gazeta. Killed: October 7, 2006. Moscow
RENOWNED for her critical coverage of the Chechen conflict and human rights abuses by the Russian military, she was found murdered in her apartment building.
PAUL KLEBNIKOV, 41
Forbes Russia. Killed: July 9, 2004. Moscow
THE magazine editor exposed the shadowy workings of the country’s billionaire tycoons. He was struck several times by shots fired from a passing car outside his office.
DMITRY SHVETS, 37
TV-21 Northwestern Broadcasting.
Killed: April 18, 2003. Murmansk
THE deputy director general of an independent TV station was shot several times outside his office.
ALEKSEI SIDOROV, 31
Tolyattinskoye Obozreniye.
Killed: October, 2003. Togliatti
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/12/04/grim-toll-of-murdered-russian-journalists-115875-22760293/