Ramzan Khadzhiev
Ramzan Khadzhiev (russ:Хаджиев Рамзан: November 14, 1955 in Kazakhstan – August 11, 1996 in Chechnya) was chief of the Northern Caucasus bureau of Russian Public Television (ORT). Khadzhiev was the 19th journalist to die in the 20-month-old Chechen war.[1]
On August 11, 1996, Khadzhiev was killed while attempting to leave Grozny, the embattled capital of Chechnya, by car with his wife and young son. He was shot in the head after being cleared through a Russian military checkpoint.[2] ORT reported that Chechen rebels targeted Khadzhiev, an ethnic Chechen, because he supported the Moscow-installed government. However, a passenger in their car told Russia's NTV television that they instead came under fire from the Russian armored vehicles.[3]
Later, his colleagues had confirmed that he was shot in the head twice by Russian federal soldiers.[4] No investigation has been launched, and ORT has not pursued any public inquiry.[5]
References
- Russian, Chechen leaders OK cease-fire, Associated Press
- Journalist killed in Chechnya p.25, Editor & Publisher
- It's a Dangerous Job: 26 Journalists Were Murdered in 1996 Archived 2006-02-11 at the Wayback Machine, Columbia Journalist Review
- No. 157, Part I, 14 August 1996 RFE/RL Archive, Radio Free Europe
- Russia's Harsh Press Climate by Catherine A. Fitzpatrick, Committee to Protect Journalists