FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2006
Project Klebnikov
TODAY'S RULING-WILL NEW RUSSIA TRIAL BE SECRET?
The wheels of justice may grind slowly, but today's decision by Russia's highest court to order a new trial in the Paul Klebnikov murder case should be greeted with great praise for Russian prosecutors and judges — and cautious optimism. The first Klebnikov trial in May was closed to the press and public, with all the participants under a strict gag order imposed by the judge. The world is now watching and waiting to see if the new trial (before a new judge) will also take place in darkness — or if justice can now be served openly. This is no small matter. If there is to be any expectation that citizens inside and outside Russia will respect and honor a new verdict, it is incumbent upon Russian officials to pry open the doors of that courtroom.
While we must and will presume that the defendants are innocent until proven guilty, the little that we do know about what actually happened inside that first courtroom made it clear that an appeal was necessary. [For more details about the first trial, please visit our website.] At Project Klebnikov -- a global alliance of investigative reporters and media entities formed in 2005 -- we remain committed to shedding light on the shadowy interests that consumed Paul and so many of his colleagues. The silencing of journalists like Paul and (only last month) Anna Politkovskaya, is not only intolerable, it is pointless. It will never stop the work.
And there will be no solace for the killers who believe differently.
With that in mind, Project K will be hosting a two-day conference in Moscow in 2007 that will bring many of the world's leading investigative reporters together for a series of public and private conversations about the Klebnikov murder and related cases.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: PROJECT KLEBNIKOV
1-212-479-7788
Richard Stern, Stern & Co. public relations
1-212-888-0044