Investigative journalist injured in attack

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 2 April 2012

Reporters Without Borders condemned an attack in Riga in which investigative journalist Leonids Jakobsons was badly beaten and suffered gunpowder burns. The group urged police to swiftly identify the perpetrators and instigators, warning of intimidation and self-censorship.

Summary

Reporters Without Borders is horrified by an attack on investigative journalist LeonidsJakobsons in Riga, in which he was badly beaten and sustained gunpowder burns from shots that were fired at him.

“We firmly condemn this targeted attack on Jakobsons, which was clearly linked to the highly sensitive subjects of his investigative reporting, and we hope he recovers quickly,” Reporters without Borders said.

“With fellow journalist GrigorijsNemcovs’murder two years ago still unsolved, it is vital that the police do everything possible to quickly identify both the perpetrators and instigators of this murder attempt or else there is danger that a climate of intimidation and self-censorship will take hold.”

Key Points

Investigative journalist Leonids Jakobsons was attacked in Riga and badly beaten.
He sustained gunpowder burns after shots were fired during the assault.
Reporters Without Borders said the attack appeared linked to his investigative reporting.
The group urged police to identify the perpetrators and instigators quickly.
RSF noted that the murder of journalist Grigorijs Nemcovs two years ago remains unsolved.

Relevant Topics

Press Freedom

Journalist Safety

Latvia

Riga

Investigative Reporting

RSF

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