UN Police Examining Evidence On Murder Of 3 Russian Journalists In CAR - UN Chief's Aide

Sumaira FH Published October 01, 2018 | 12:51 PM

The UN police, working in the Central African Republic (CAR) as part of the peacekeeping mission, is examining the forensic evidence obtained from the site of the murder of three Russian journalists, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations Alexander Zuev told Sputnik

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st October, 2018) The UN police, working in the Central African Republic (CAR) as part of the peacekeeping mission, is examining the forensic evidence obtained from the site of the murder of three Russian journalists, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations Alexander Zuev told Sputnik.

Russian nationals Kirill Radchenko, Alexander Rastorguev and Orkhan Dzhemal were found dead in the CAR on July 30. An investigative media of Russian opposition figure Mikhail Khodorkovsky confirmed that it had sent the three journalists to the CAR to work on a documentary about mercenary forces allegedly active in the country. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, preliminary information showed robbery was the motivation behind the attack.

"The forensic tests continue now. The bodies of the journalists have been examined with the support of UN forensic experts.

Our ballistic experts and other [experts] are still working on the journalists' car," Zuev said.

The official noted that only CAR law enforcement can investigate the incident.

"We promise full support in this situation on the part of the UN police so that people who killed the Russian journalists were brought to justice as per law," the official said.

Zuev also recommended all journalists who were going to the regions where UN peacekeepers are deployed to get in touch with the missions and inquire about safety risks.

The CAR has been suffering from numerous internal conflicts. In 2012-2014, the country faced a civil war, involving the government, Seleka rebel groups' alliance, composed mostly of Muslims, and Christian militias. The violence did not stop even after Seleka was dissolved in 2013.