VIENNA, 8 November 2010 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic is appaled by reports of a violent attack on another Russian journalist today.

Anatoly Adamchuk, a reporter with the Zhukovskiye vesti newspaper, was assaulted by two unidentified attackers and had to be hospitalized with head injuries.

"This new assault, less than 48 hours after the brutal attack on Kommersant reporter Oleg Kashin, is yet another proof that impunity leads to further violence," Mijatovic said.

"Failure to prosecute those responsible for attacks against journalists breeds violence and has a chilling effect on investigative journalism. Russian law enforcement agencies should act urgently to investigate this and all other cases of violence against the media," she said.

Adamchuk’s colleagues say they believe the attack is linked to the victim’s professional activities. He was reporting on the arrests of children protesting against the cutting down of Khimki forest, near Moscow.

In a letter sent earlier today to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Mijatovic condemned the brutal assault on Oleg Kashin, calling on Russian authorities to act swiftly and bring the perpetrators and all those responsible to justice.

Direct link to the press-release