10 Aug 2018 18:09

Investigation Control Center head editor was questioned as witness on killing of 3 Russians in CAR

MOSCOW. Aug 10 (Interfax) - Andrei Konyakhin, the editor-in-chief of the Investigation Control Center, an investigative journalism project sponsored by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, said investigators view him as a witness in a criminal case dealing with the killing of three Russian journalists in the Central African Republic (CAR).

"I am a witness, that's right," Konyakhin told Interfax after investigators questioned him earlier on Friday. He said the investigator did not ask him to sign a paper obliging him not to disclose investigation details.

Konyakhin said he did not feel pressure on the part of the investigation.

"This is a routine procedural story, there are a lot of witnesses like me. There are aggrieved parties among the relatives, and there are witnesses, those who knew details of the trip," Konyakhin said.

The official investigation has no influence on the Investigation Control Center's own investigation, including plans to travel to the Central African Republic, Konyakhin said.

It was reported earlier on Friday that investigators questioned Konyakhin on the death of three Russian journalists in the CAR.

It was reported on July 31 that Russian reporter Orkhan Dzhemal, documentary filmmaker Alexander Rastorguyev, and cameraman Kirill Radchenko were killed in the CAR by unidentified assailants. The Russians were reportedly filming a documentary about private military companies under a contract with the Investigation Control Center.

The Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case on charges of murder.

Investigation Control Center Deputy Editor-in-Chief Anastasia Gorshkova was questioned on August 2.