Last Updated: July 28, 2000
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ASNE on the move
Board expresses concern about Russian journalist
ASNE’s board of directors has passed a resolution supporting Russian
press freedom and the plight of a radio journalist based in Russia:
The American Society of Newspaper Editors expresses its concern about
press freedoms in Russia and wishes to draw attention to the case of Andrei
Babitsky, a correspondent of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty. The Society
asks that the charges against him be dropped.
The ASNE has welcomed Russia’s progress toward a more open media
and views what the authorities there have done recently in Chechnya as
unacceptable and several steps away from the principles of press freedom
the Russian government and the international community have committed themselves
to uphold.
Babitsky, a longtime correspondent, was one of the last journalists
left during the Russian siege of Chechnya during the winter of 1999-2000.
From Chechen lines, he filed reports critical of the military’s claims
of success, and its brutality toward civilians.
Babitsky was reported arrested by police for lacking accreditation and,
the Russians said, because of reports that he had spent time with Chechen
fighters. He was missing for more than six weeks.
Subsequent reports claimed that the Russians swapped Babitsky for three
Russian soldiers held by Chechen fighters.
Within two weeks, Babitsky was free, having been released into the Russian
province of Dagestan with a fake passport given to him by his captors.
Upon entering Dagestan, Babitsky was rearrested, flown to Moscow, and
charged with collaboration with the Chechens and with possessing a fake
passport. The charge of collaboration was subsequently dropped.
