Newsletters / Mikhail Khodorkovsky Launches Justice For Journalists Foundation

MIKHAIL KHODORKOVSKY LAUNCHES JUSTICE FOR JOURNALISTS FOUNDATION

“The murder of three journalists in the Central African Republic who were collaborating with one of my research initiatives has deeply affected me. Crimes against journalists is a global problem.  Each year dozens of journalists are killed across the world, and the majority of these crimes remain unresolved.

The way I see it, the Justice for Journalists Foundation is one way of fighting against impunity.  We are hoping to collaborate with journalists and human rights organisations and individual journalists who believe that those who commit crimes against journalists should be brought to justice.  An investigation into the murder of Kiril, Alexander and Orkhan could become the Foundation’s first priority case.”

Mikhail Khodorkovsky
Founder of Justice for Journalists

In late July three Russian journalists, Kiril Radchenko, Alexander Rastorguev and Orkhan Dzhemal were murdered in the Central African Republic while investigating Wagner, a private Russian mercenary group reported to be overseen by catering magnate Evgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of Russian President Putin and the head of the infamous Troll Factory.

In response to this tragedy, Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his former business partner Leonid Nevzlin have announced the establishment of Justice for Journalists, a foundation set up in order to investigate violent crimes against journalists who have been targeted as a result of their professional duties.

The Foundation will provide organisational, political, advocacy and financial support to professional investigative groups worldwide in order to discover, disclose and bring to justice those who are responsible for committing crimes against media.  The founders of the Foundation expect that the in the initial stages the Foundation will sponsor or co-sponsor between 5 and 10 international investigations of crimes against journalists a year.

An initial sum of five million dollars has been pledged by Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Leonid Nevzlin towards the future work of Justice for Journalists Foundation.  The Foundation will be run by an advisory board and a council of experts and investigators, drawing from a wide range of renowned professionals in a variety of fields.

For further information, visit the Justice for Journalists website here.