Five-year anniversary of Klebnikov murder

Steve Forbes writes about the five-year anniversary of the murder of Forbes journalist Paul Klebnikov, which is still unsoilved.

Forbes writes, “Paul was the founding editor of Forbes Russia, assuming this post after a long, distinguished career with Forbes itself. He was a brilliant investigator who wrote a number of insightful, courageous articles that often offended the powerful. In Russia such offenses can lead to beatings–and death.

“The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that 17 journalists have been murdered in Russia since 2000. Countless others have been subjected to harassment and outright violence. None of those who ordered the murders of these reporters and commentators have been tried, convicted and jailed. Not one.

“But what gives Paul’s death particular poignancy are the values that he represented and the hopes he nourished about the future of Russia. Though born in America, Paul was of Russian descent and spoke Russian fluently. Despite Russia’s blood-drenched history, Paul felt that the country could, in the post-communist world, move forward and evolve into a vibrant, modern nation that would develop an ever-stronger civil society, and become a major global player in innovative high technology.”

Read more here.