This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

The body of an independent Russian journalist was found in a wood the day after he had gone missing following threats from law enforcement authorities.

Timur Kuashev worked for the magazine Dosh (or Dosch) as its correspondent in Nalchik, the capital of the autonomous Kabardino-Balkar republic in the Russian Caucasus.

Timur Kuashev. Photograph: kavkaz-uzel.ru

His body was found on Friday (1 August) in a wood near the Nalchik suburb of Khasania after he went missing the previous evening. There were no visible signs of violence. At the time of his burial on Saturday, the results of an autopsy to determine the cause of his death were unknown.

An article in Dosh said: "We believe that Timur was kidnapped from his home." It pointed out that his mobile phone, which he always carried, was found in his apartment.

Kuashev had written about alleged human rights abuses by the security forces in the course of anti-terrorism operations. He also criticised Russian policy in Ukraine.

According to a Dosh editor, Abdulla Duduev, Kuashev was under surveillance and had regularly received threats.

And he told Reporters Without Borders (RWB): "Timur always wrote effectively, honestly and courageously... at our request on the most current topics – politics, illegal actions by the security forces and special operations."

Police arrested Kuashev on 21 May, just before the start of a march marking the 150th anniversary of the end of the Caucasian war - the 45-year conflict that ended with the Russian empire's conquest of the Caucasian territories - and held him for four hours, thereby preventing him from participating in the march.

Johann Bihr, head of RWB's eastern Europe and central Asia desk, said: "Kuashev's death is yet another reminder of the exorbitant price paid for independent journalism in certain republics in the Russian Caucasus.

"The lack of any adequate reaction from authorities to the death threats he had received amounts to culpable negligence."

Sources: Reporters Without Borders/Caucasian Knot: (1) and (2)