User:Crtew/Dmitry Popkov

Dmitry Popkov (born ca. 1975; died May 24th, 2017) was a Russian newspaper journalist and editor. He co-founded the local publication (Moscow) Ton-M. He held a seat on the Minusinsk city council until 2012 when his seat was taken away after he was found guilty of child abuse. His death (Siberia) is said to be correlated with his work, as his paper revealed many corrupt accusations on the Russian government.

Career
Popkov held a seat on city council until 2012 when he was found guilty of beating a child. He co-founded Ton-M, a local news publication that reveals corruption incidents and critiqued the associates of the Kremlin United Russia party. . He was also editor of this publication

Death
Popkov was found dead outside of his home in Minusinsk, Siberia on Wednesday, May 24, 2017.A committee from the Krasnoyarsk region investigated the crime. His body was found with gunshot wounds. The Russian Union of Journalists called for "thorough investigations of all crimes committed against journalists."

Context
“Media rights groups say journalists who fall afoul of national or local authorities in Russia run the risk of being attacked, and the perpetrators or those behind them are rarely brought to justice. At least 57 journalists have been killed in Russia since 1992, including 37 who were targeted for murder, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Reporters Without Borders ranks Russia 148th in the world for media freedom." Ton-M was under attack by officials trying to silence the incidents they’d reveal, and was the target of police raids and phone threats.

Impact
Popkov was the second Russian journalist to be murdered in 2017. Popkov’s newspaper coined the term “We write what other people keep quiet about” and was victim of governmental pressure.

Reactions
Proceeding Popkov’s death, friends were interrogated about the crime. ...., the director general of Unesco, said, “I condemn the murder of Dmitry Popkov and urge the competent authorities to prosecute the perpetrators of his murder." Lutz Kinkel, from ECPMF, says “The Russian government must not only thoroughly investigate these murders, it must take decisive action to protect journalists in the country.” Unpunished crimes against journalists continue to be a concern for Russia.