Kirill Radchenko, Alexander Rastorguyev and Orkhan Dzhemal were kidnapped by 10 men, officials say

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Three Russian journalists have been killed in an ambush outside the town of Sibut in Central African Republic, officials in both countries said on Tuesday.

'The future is very dark': Central African Republic's relentless cycle of suffering Read more

The three Russians left the town on Monday night around 7pm and were attacked between two villages about 23 kilometres (14 miles) away, according to Marcelin Yoyo, a Sibut deputy official.

“Security forces in charge told them not to go because it was already dark,” Yoyo said. “They were kidnapped by about 10 men, all turbaned and speaking only Arabic.”

Yoyo said the journalists were slain on the spot, while their driver fled and informed authorities on Tuesday morning.

Vladimir Monteiro, a spokesman for the United Nations mission in Central African Republic, said the victims’ bodies were recovered and taken to a mission hospital in Sibut. He did not disclose their nationalities or identities.

The Russian foreign ministry identified the murdered journalists as Kirill Radchenko, Alexander Rastorguyev and Orkhan Dzhemal. It expressed condolences to the families of the dead and said it was working on getting their bodies to Russia.

The three had been working on a film in a partnership with an investigative media outlet run by the exiled Russian tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Russian media reported the journalists were covering a story on a private Russian security company operating in Central African Republic.

Rich in minerals, including uranium, Central African Republic is one of the poorest and most unstable countries in the world.

It plunged into violence after the nation’s longtime leader François Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown in 2013 by a mainly Muslim rebel alliance.

France, the former colonial ruler, intervened militarily to push out the alliance before winding down the operation.

But the president, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, who succeeded Bozize, controls little of the country beyond the capital Bangui.

He governs with the support of a United Nations force of 13,000 troops and police, one of the biggest peacekeeping missions in the world.

Most of Central African Republic is controlled by militias, many of whom claim to represent Christian or Muslim communities but frequently clash over natural resources and revenue, which includes roadblocks.

Russia has taken on a visible role in the country since December last year, when it was authorised by the UN to provide armed forces with weapons and training.

The delivery was ostensibly aimed at shoring up the beleaguered central government and its chronically weak military – an exemption to a UN arms embargo imposed at the outbreak of conflict in 2013.

Britain, France and the US voiced concern, demanding that deliveries be restricted to light arms and that Russia take steps to provide traceability to prevent the weapons from being sold on the black market.

A UN panel of experts warned on Tuesday that Russia’s weapons supply has sparked an arms race in the country, with rebels turning to traffickers in Sudan for fresh gun shipments.

It is understood that Russia has also signed a range of deals with the government since then, including security for Touadéra. His security adviser is also a Russian.

A spokesman for Central African Republic’s government, Ange Maxime Kazagui, said the ministries for communication and for public security and defence had not issued accreditation to a delegation of Russian journalists.



Central African Republic has launched an investigation into the attack, he said.

This report contains material from AP and AFP