Mysterious Death of Journalist Maxim Borodin in Russia

The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, asked Friday the authorities of the Russian Federation to investigate the death of reporter Maxim Borodin on 15 April.

“I call for a thorough and transparent investigation into the death of Maxim Borodin,” said the Director-General. “I trust the authorities will spare no effort in determining the circumstances of his death.”

Maxim Borodin died from injuries sustained in a mysterious fall from the balcony of his apartment in Yekaterinburg on 12 April. He was an investigative journalist with the independent news website Novy Den.

[ Modi’s Nationalism Is Threat to Press Freedom in India: Global Report ]

According to BBC, Borodin had written about Russian mercenaries known as the “Wagner Group” who were reportedly killed in Syria in February in a confrontation with U.S. forces.

BBC adds that journalists in Russia are often harassed or attacked and much of Russia’s media is controlled by the state. Russia gets a poor score of 83 out of 100 for press freedom by Freedom House.

UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity-building and a range of actions, notably the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.