[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 131 (Tuesday, November 16, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1997]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               BRING PAUL KLEBNIKOV'S KILLERS TO JUSTICE

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                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 16, 2004

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I want to call the attention of 
my colleagues to the death of journalist Paul Klebnikov, who was 
murdered on July 9 of this year outside his Moscow office. An American 
citizen of Russian lineage, Mr. Klebnikov was editor of the Russian 
edition of Forbes magazine. According to the Committee to Protect 
Journalists, he was the 11th journalist killed in Russia in a contract-
style murder in the past four and a half years.
  Mr. Klebnikov had achieved prominence as a result of his 
investigative journalism which often focused on the connections between 
business, politics and crime in Russia. Mr. Klebnikov's investigations 
resulted in his writing two books, both devoted to exposing corruption 
within Russia's business and political sectors. Clearly, he made 
powerful enemies. There has been speculation that his murder was 
connected to a Forbes article that focused on Moscow's 100 wealthiest 
people. Someone, goes the theory, did not care for the publicity. 
Another suggestion is that Mr. Klebnikov's book Conversation with a 
Barbarian: Interview with a Chechen Field Commander on Banditry and 
Islam may have sparked a motive for the murder.
  It was Mr. Klebnikov's love of Russia and his belief that reforms 
were advancing the nation toward a greater transparency in business and 
politics that motivated him to launch the Russian edition of Forbes 
magazine in April 2004. Mr. Klebnikov was committed to exposing and 
confronting corruption in the hope that such work would contribute to a 
brighter future for the people of Russia. He believed that 
accountability was an essential element to achieve lasting reforms.
  Unfortunately, this hope for a better future in Russia has been dealt 
a serious blow by the murder of Paul Klebnikov. As I and ten other 
Members of the Helsinki Commission wrote to President Putin on October 
5th of this year, much more is at stake than determining who killed 
Paul Klebnikov. The fear and self-censorship arising from the murders 
of journalists in Russia only serves to add to the corruption of 
government officials and businessmen. A cowed press cannot be the 
effective instrument for building the free and prosperous society that 
Mr. Putin purports to seek.
  Mr. Speaker, according to the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS, on the 
occasion of ``Militia Day,'' November 10, President Vladimir Putin told 
police officials that protecting the economy from crime and fighting 
corruption is a priority task in Russia. I would urge Mr. Putin to back 
up these words with action. Russian authorities should investigate to 
the fullest extent possible the murder of Mr. Klebnikov, no matter 
where the trail leads.
  Only through rule of law and accountability can Russia achieve the 
safe, free and comfortable future that Mr. Klebnikov believed was 
possible.

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