World

‘He Was Covered in Blood’: Russian Reporter Beaten Into Coma

MOSCOW (AP) — A reporter for a major Russian newspaper was left a coma Saturday after two men smashed his head, legs and fingers in an attack that prosecutors believe may be linked to his work.

Prosecutors said two unidentified attackers were waiting for Oleg Kashin, 30, when he returned to his apartment in central Moscow just after midnight.

Colleagues said Kashin was beaten so badly that he suffered a concussion and multiple broken bones — to his upper and lower jaw and both lower legs. After an operation, doctors put him into an artificial coma.

His editor at the Kommersant newspaper, Mikhail Mikhailin, said the fact that the attackers did not rob Kashin and made a point of mangling his fingers makes it appear to be retaliation for his reporting.

Speaking on NTV television, Mikhailin said Kashin was investigating “informal organizations” but gave no specifics.

Kashin has written on a wide range of social and political issues, some politically sensitive, others not. His reporting appeared to be straightforward and balanced.

Many journalists have been attacked or killed in Russia in recent years, with few perpetrators ever found. Since 2000, at least 18 killings have gone unsolved, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.

But the Kremlin seemed to determine to show that this attack would be treated differently. President Dmitry Medvedev ordered Russia‘s prosecutor general and interior minister to oversee the investigation to identify and apprehend Kashin’s attackers.

All of Russia’s national television networks, which are under direct or indirect Kremlin control, led their news programs with the attack.

NTV interviewed a neighbor, a middle-aged woman identified only as Olga, who heard the attack and went outside as the ambulance arrived.

“He was covered in blood, his face was completely covered in blood, his legs,” she said. “He showed his hand to the doctor so he could see

MOSCOW (AP) — A reporter for a major Russian newspaper was left a coma Saturday after two men smashed his head, legs and fingers in an attack that prosecutors believe may be linked to his work.

Prosecutors said two unidentified attackers were waiting for Oleg Kashin, 30, when he returned to his apartment in central Moscow just after midnight.

Colleagues said Kashin was beaten so badly that he suffered a concussion and multiple broken bones — to his upper and lower jaw and both lower legs. After an operation, doctors put him into an artificial coma.

His editor at the Kommersant newspaper, Mikhail Mikhailin, said the fact that the attackers did not rob Kashin and made a point of mangling his fingers makes it appear to be retaliation for his reporting.

Speaking on NTV television, Mikhailin said Kashin was investigating “informal organizations” but gave no specifics.

Kashin has written on a wide range of social and political issues, some politically sensitive, others not. His reporting appeared to be straightforward and balanced.

Many journalists have been attacked or killed in Russia in recent years, with few perpetrators ever found. Since 2000, at least 18 killings have gone unsolved, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.

But the Kremlin seemed to determine to show that this attack would be treated differently. President Dmitry Medvedev ordered Russia‘s prosecutor general and interior minister to oversee the investigation to identify and apprehend Kashin’s attackers.

All of Russia’s national television networks, which are under direct or indirect Kremlin control, led their news programs with the attack.

NTV interviewed a neighbor, a middle-aged woman identified only as Olga, who heard the attack and went outside as the ambulance arrived.

“He was covered in blood, his face was completely covered in blood, his legs,” she said. “He showed his hand to the doctor so he could see it was all broken.”

Comments (44)

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  • QuietRiot
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:27pm

    Maybe Keith can get a job their !!

    Report Post »  
  • CommunismSurvivor
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 9:26pm

    This is what’s coming here. Mark my words.

    Report Post » CommunismSurvivor  
  • snuss
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 12:51pm

    Many American journalists deserve worse.

    Report Post »  
  • SallyV
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:41am

    My prayers to the brave journalist in Russia who had the courage to report the truth. The “journalists” in this country should be ashamed of themselves for being spinless (other than Fox News) not to speak out against tyranny and the Progressives here in the USA who are trying to destroy our great Republic. We need to be vigilent in our duty to keep the truth in the public eye – and watch their other hand.

    Report Post »  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 9:10am

    Sure sounds mob and UNION related to me. We need to send all the communists over to Russia and leave them there. I bet it wouldn’t take long for them to start singing a different tune. I bet Spooky Dude had something to do with it.

    Report Post »  
  • Marcobob69
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 8:32am

    Freedom of the(non biased)press! That is what makes this country the only real “free” country in the world! We the people must make sure this country stays free. Freedom of speech is the first amendment, which in my opinion makes it the most important.

    Report Post »  
  • dizzyinthedark
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 7:10am

    If you have an understanding of space you know you can look ‘out there’ to see how earth and other planets have evolved. Back here on earth from the very beginning there were the story tellers, then with knowledge we had written materials giving accounts of the past to be used as a guide. In medicine we can look inside the body to see future events that could possibly happen to us to harm our health also used as a guide and we take heed.

    Why are we so thick headed, all we have to do is look across the ocean to Russia (journalists), Greece (collapse), Britain (shariah law) and France (union thugs) to know their problems will be ours if we do nothing here to make damn sure the same never happens. So what if set up laws to stop this and are called out by the world as extreme, at least we can say we are protected! Get rid of the union, no to shariah law, protect our Constitution, keep the fires burning at the feet of our Congressmen and Senators! Remember it’s about US not THEM! We know that ‘us’ means the Constitution and they understand ‘them’ as well just that!

    Report Post » dizzyinthedark  
  • Leslie Emerson
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 6:31am

    broker0101
    Posted on November 6, 2010 at 10:40pm
    I had the greatest day today in the real world! My daughters competed in (and my younger won) a local church talent show/contest. We enjoyed watching my college alma mater win an entertaining football game on television while cooking and enjoying a delicious lunch as a family and then we attended a great, casual dinner party together with a large group of friends. We all had a great, entertaining and enlightening time…. in the real world, without the internet or preoccupation with Glenn Beck. Hopefully this report will help inspire to re-engage some of the more obsessive of you here with the real world.

    Why are you here then Broker o1o1? Only small minds judge other people and presume to know what they have done all day.

    Report Post » Leslie Emerson  
  • Paul_in_Ukraine
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 3:45am

    This does not only happen in Russia. Here in Ukraine, a number of journalists have been beaten since the new, pro-Russian, president came to power in January. A few months ago, a prominent editor mysteriously went missing and is presumed dead. His specialty was undercover work to expose government corruption. He is believed to have been killed by the police here in the city of Kharkov. In fact, most of the harassment of journalists have been by POLICE. If the police are the ones committing the crimes, then who can you turn to?

    What is more interesting to me is the comparison between journalists in countries of the former USSA, like Ukraine and Russia, and in the United States. Journalists here in Ukraine are being harassed and even killed, but to DO keep trying to speak truth to power. In the U.S., “mainstream” journalists will NOT do their jobs because they don’t want to expose the lies and corruption of their left-wing masters. They only become “journalists” if they are going after someone to the right of center… at least where they perceive the center to be.

    Report Post »  
  • free2bme1961
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 2:34am

    “Further global progress is now possible only through a quest for universal consensus in the movement towards a new world order.”
    Mikhail Gorbachev, in an address at the United Nations (December 1988)*

    “What we say, goes”
    George Bush, Illuminati – as a response to what would happen after the collapse of the Soviet Union. He referred to the Council on Foreign Relations.*

    “We believe we are creating the beginning of a new world order coming out of the collapse of the U.S.-Soviet antagonisms.”
    Brent Scowcroft (August 1990), quoted in The Washington Post (May 1991)*

    “… it‘s Bush’s baby, even if he shares its popularization with Gorbachev. Forget the Hitler ‘new order’ root; F.D.R. used the phrase earlier.”
    William Safire, in The New York Times (February 1991)*

    Report Post » free2bme1961  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 1:10am

    none of you understand russia or its history.

    Russia is still an enemy to the free western world and stalinism didn’t die in 1991.

    the struggle only metamorphizied…..

    it will continue to do so

    Report Post » MrButcher  
  • vic138
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 12:53am

    I’m sure the progressives would love to do this to glenn beck.

    Report Post » vic138  
    • Dstarr55
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 1:12am

      They certainly try hard enough (without the clubs to the head) – they even tried to enlist Sarah Palin to get him to shut up. Fortunately we on the right believe in free speech even to those we disagree with. It is the left that always wants to shut people with opposing views down (or walk out on them).

      Report Post »  
  • Jillbird
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 12:10am

    This poor guy in Russia is just one more reason why we have to fight to keep our country as free as possible. “They” would love to shut down all press from the right and will keep trying through the FCC and any other regulatory agency they can find to use. One day this same story could come from the good old USA!

    Report Post »  
  • spreadcommonsensenot pc
    Posted on November 6, 2010 at 11:34pm

    putan

    Report Post »  
  • TJexcite
    Posted on November 6, 2010 at 11:13pm

    I wish him well no one should be attacked like that.

    It is hard to know who could of done it. Both sides are violent, left and far left. In Russia he could have made enemies with both sides by simply telling the truth. In the west it is much easier to know which side of the spectrum one is on and which side is the violent one.

    Report Post » TJexcite  
  • Star Spangled
    Posted on November 6, 2010 at 11:04pm

    Maybe SEIU has opened an office in Russia .
    I wish him well .

    Report Post » Star Spangled  
  • CowboyExpat
    Posted on November 6, 2010 at 10:44pm

    The world is not free….just America. And that folks is why we fight to keep her free and unencumbered with big government.

    Report Post » CowboyExpat  
  • grandmaof5
    Posted on November 6, 2010 at 10:13pm

    Oh no, don’t tell me Eric Holder moved to Russia! America, you are now looking into the crystal ball of our future if things don’t take a sharp turn to the right. The days of turning of heads and ignoring equal justice for all people needs to come to an end. Wake up, America, or you are looking at your future.

    Report Post »  
    • Jillbird
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 12:06am

      I am also a grandma, to 6. I keep warning them, some of them being old enough to understand, what they might be up against. I believe if we make aware more of the young to the plight of our country it can make a difference. I am very afraid of what will be happening after our generation is gone and forgotten. Schools are really indoctrinating the kids and the gov seems to be giving more and more of the parental rights to others. These others don’t want for them what we want for them nor what the parents want for them. Home schooling is great but not everyone can handle it. Pray for our country!

      Report Post »  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on November 6, 2010 at 10:12pm

    do they have the seiu in moscow? what is it with fingers? they bite em over here and break em over there……………….can we send seiu and the rest of our unions over there too? i hear there is lots of stuff to organize………books (oops they burnt those) store shelves (oops they dont have food) oh i know goverment hand out reports………..yep thats it

    Report Post » Psychosis  
  • NickDeringer
    Posted on November 6, 2010 at 10:11pm

    Who care about reporters being beat up? It‘s those darn McDonald’s Happy Meal that are the real danger.

    /snark

    Report Post » NickDeringer  
  • FiveFreedoms
    Posted on November 6, 2010 at 10:03pm

    We will pray for a complete and speedy recovery. I hope the animals who did this and they who hired them are brought to justice.

    Report Post »  
  • jim1flyer
    Posted on November 6, 2010 at 10:02pm

    Probably union thugs.

    Report Post »  
  • joseph Fawcett
    Posted on November 6, 2010 at 10:02pm

    Wow, Fox watch out, if this goverment keeps on going the way it is you and yours just might be the first target. Thank God we live in a semi-free country right now, it may not be long, yet today was more freedom than bondage.

    wwwjosephfawcettart.com western artist

    Report Post » joseph Fawcett  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 1:10am

      Good thing the Libs are too stupid to pull this off. They would send two thugs with SEIU t-shirts. The Russians have this down to a fine science.

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
  • HTuttle
    Posted on November 6, 2010 at 10:01pm

    Needs to be ‘put in’ perspective.’

    Report Post »  
  • traderdan
    Posted on November 6, 2010 at 10:01pm

    Informal organizations? Oh like the TIDES foundation?

    Report Post »  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on November 6, 2010 at 10:07pm

      Most likely the ‘informal organizations’ are russian mob or KGB tied organizations.
      http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • IVillageIdiot
      Posted on November 6, 2010 at 10:22pm

      The Soviets may have lost their slave colonies, but that doesn’t mean the KGB ever surrendered.

      The KGB MUST be defeated, or there will be no peace in the world.

      Report Post » IVillageIdiot  
    • broker0101
      Posted on November 6, 2010 at 10:40pm

      I had the greatest day today in the real world! My daughters competed in (and my younger won) a local church talent show/contest. We enjoyed watching my college alma mater win an entertaining football game on television while cooking and enjoying a delicious lunch as a family and then we attended a great, casual dinner party together with a large group of friends. We all had a great, entertaining and enlightening time…. in the real world, without the internet or preoccupation with Glenn Beck. Hopefully this report will help inspire to re-engage some of the more obsessive of you here with the real world.

      broker0101  
    • LUDWIKA BRONISLAWA
      Posted on November 6, 2010 at 11:19pm

      Russian untouchables? It’s amazing how little has changed there. My prayers for that man.

      Report Post » LUDWIKA BRONISLAWA  
    • LUDWIKA BRONISLAWA
      Posted on November 6, 2010 at 11:29pm

      Broker I find it very funny that you have sooooo much to do, yet still find the time to join us here. WHO’S obsessed? It WAS nice of you to offer some sympathy and prayer regarding the subject of this article, oh, wait, you must have forgotten that part after chastising US for OUR small minds. Now get a REAL real life. TOOL.

      Report Post » LUDWIKA BRONISLAWA  
    • Dstarr55
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 12:45am

      Sorry, Broker0101 but LUDWIKA is right, to post ‘get a life’ is rather hypocritical of you.

      My father was in the air force and loves to tell the story of the time he flew top brass into Russia and how he couldn’t even breathe without the KGB in his face. A society that was so controlled for so long does not find freedom so easily and Putin is, after all, ex-KGB. Even my daughter who went there with People to People in 1992 said how they always knew they were being watched. Reporters uncover ugly truths and are not so easily manipulated – hence they sometimes need to be silenced.

      Report Post »  
    • Dstarr55
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 1:07am

      Wanted to add to the statement ‘in a closed society’ reporters need to be silenced. Countries that spoon feed only the news they want their people to hear do not tolerate news that does not fit their agenda.

      Report Post »  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 5:11am

      On November 14, also on the sidelines of APEC, Obama will hold a bilateral meeting with Medvedev.
      “This, of course, is one of the president’s closest and most active relationships with any foreign leader,” Rhodes [Deputy National Security Adviser for strategic communications] said.
      He said they would discuss a range of issues, including Moscow’s bid for World Trade Organization membership, and cooperation on issues like nonproliferation, nuclear security and other security issues. The White House wants the Senate to vote on whether to ratify a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia that would result in a modest cut in both countries’ new arsenals… http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101028/pl_nm/us_asia_obama_meetings

      It fills me with pride to know that Obama and Putin’s lapdog have such an “active relationship.” Those two can’t stay away from each other. Just five months ago, they had a hamburger fest. Now Obama will be taking his third crash course on “other security issues” straight from the horse’s mouth. Mmm mmm mmm. Is that commie thrill going up your leg, Obama?

      Report Post »  
    • Max jones
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 8:14am

      There is an old folk saying, chinese, i believe, that goes like this…“Beat the chicken to scare the monkey”.
      Glenn Beck could represent the monkey, in this scenario….which chicken will be beaten to try to frighten him?
      obama is dangerous. His agenda is being threatened. His progress is soon to be halted and he is surely feeling quite wounded. Look out! His‘ petulant child’ could show himself.

      Report Post » Max jones  
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