RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN CALLED ON FOR JUSTICE IN CASE OF ASSASSINATED AMERICAN JOURNALIST

Paul Klebnikov’s Family Says Stand By Your Commitment to Solve 10-Year Old Case

July 9th, 2014 New York, NY – Marking the 10th anniversary of his

murder in Russia, the family of American journalist Paul Klebnikov called

today for President Vladimir Putin to deliver long-delayed justice in the

contract killing case. Klebnikov’s family expressed their outrage that the killers have not been punished and the case is still officially “under investigation” a decade after the former Forbes Russia editor was assassinated by gunmen in a drive-by shooting outside his

office in Moscow.

“We are bitterly disappointed,” said Musa Klebnikov, Paul’s widow, “and

call on President Putin to order his government finally to bring Paul’s

murderers to justice.” The Klebnikov family believes that resolution of

the case would represent a step forward for journalists and all Russians,

who would benefit from a justice system that upholds due process of the law.

“When we met with President Putin in 2004, he assured us that all

efforts would be made to bring Paul’s assailants and the mastermind who

ordered his murder to justice,” said Mrs. Klebnikov. “Ten years ago, we

called this a litmus test for the Russian Government and today the results

testify to a failed system of justice. Gunmen were arrested and released, trials manipulated and jury tampered with. No mastermind has been named - it is long past time to get to the bottom of this case. This level of impunity is against everything Paul and other forward- looking Russians were hoping for in Russia. ”

Paul Klebnikov believed in a better Russia. In furtherance of his deeply

held beliefs, Paul’s family cooperated with Russian law enforcement and

worked within the legal system in an attempt to ensure that justice was

done. The failure to solve this brutal crime shows that Russia is further

than ever from being the country for which Paul labored and ultimately gave his life.

Since 2004 the Paul Klebnikov Fund has honored Paul’s love of

Russia by supporting development of a civil society through an independent and professional media. The Fund provides training and

fellowships to Russia’s best journalists through a partnership with

Columbia University’s Harriman Institute.

While disappointed by the Russian Government’s response, the Klebnikov

family expresses its sincere gratitude to the many people in the Russian

and American government, legal and news media communities – as well as the many concerned citizens of both countries – who have supported efforts to bring those responsible for Paul’s death to justice

Contacts:

Musa Klebnikov

Email: musa.klebnikov@gmail.com

Cell: 917-597-7280

Tel: 39-0565-29509

Michael Klebnikov

Email: mklebnikov@mindspring.com

Cell: 646-752-3956

Peter Klebnikov

Email: pklebnikov@edf.org

Cell: 917-494-0343