(Russia) Another Russian journalist beaten in Moscow Region

According to an article by CPJ, Russian authorities should thoroughly investigate the March 12 beating of Maksim Zolotarev, an editor at the independent newspaper Molva Yuzhnoye Podmoskovye in the town of Serpukhov, Moscow Region, the Committee to Protect Journalists said.

Zolotarev told Radio Svoboda--the Russian Service of the U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty--that three unidentified men in hooded jackets first attacked him with pepper spray, then beat him with clubs when he was leaving his apartment building for work at around 12:30 p.m. He said the assailants fled the scene in their Mitsubishi sedan, parked in front of Zolotarev's building. The journalist is now recovering at home from bruises on his left arm, spine, and thigh, Radio Svoboda reported.

Zolotarev said he considers the attack retaliation for the paper's reporting on corruption. He told Radio Svoboda he is resigning from the paper as a result. "They tried to intimidate me and they've succeeded," Zolotarev told the radio.

Zolotarev's lawyer, Igor Ogorodnikov, told Radio Svoboda that regional police have not yet opened an investigation. He said investigators are taking witnesses' statements, but that he felt they were not taking Zolotarev's statement seriously, Radio Svoboda reported. The lawyer said the police refused to open a requested probe or conduct a forensic medical exam.

- Jessica Smith (Team Russia)