In response to the murder of three Russian journalists in the Central African Republic on July 31, PEN America released the following statement:

“The murder of these courageous Russian journalists—Alexander Rastorguev, Orhan Djemal, and Kirill Radchenko—is a terrible tragedy. Although the details of their murder remain unclear, the fact that they were killed while reportedly investigating a private military firm with links to the Kremlin raises many questions. We call on the governments of Russia and the Central African Republic to conduct thorough and impartial investigations to uncover the truth.”

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PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. pen.org

CONTACT: 

Anoosh Gasparian, External Relations Manager: [email protected]