Russian Weirdness in D.C.

[Annie]

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=104&sid=1077963#

Russian Expert Shot Near D.C.-Area Home
Mar 3rd - 6:06pm


By BRETT ZONGKER
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - An expert on Russian intelligence was critically injured in a shooting in front of his suburban Washington home, authorities said.

The shooting of Paul Joyal, 53, came days after he accused the Russian government of involvement in the poisoning of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko. The FBI was assisting in the investigation.

Joyal was shot Thursday by two men in his driveway, police said.

The shooting appeared to be a random robbery and street shooting, a law enforcement official with knowledge of the case told The Associated Press. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person did not have authority to comment on the case.

In an interview broadcast last Sunday on "Dateline NBC," Joyal also accused the Russian government of trying to silence its critics.

"A message has been communicated to anyone who wants to speak out against the Kremlin: If you do, no matter who you are, where you are, we will find you, and we will silence you _ in the most horrible way possible," Joyal said.



Associated Press writer Maria Danilova in Moscow contributed to this report.

 

[Adam's Apple]

With reference to the last paragraph of your post, looks like Joyal knew whereof he spoke.

 

[Annie]

and more weirdness:

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,256699,00.html

FOXNews.com
Russian Journalist Dies in Fall From Window

Monday , March 05, 2007

AP


MOSCOW —
A military correspondent for Russia's top business daily has died after falling out of a window, and some media alleged Monday that he might have been killed for his critical reporting.

Ivan Safronov, the military affairs writer for Kommersant, died Friday after falling from a fifth-story window in the stairwell of his apartment building in Moscow, officials said. His body was found by neighbors shortly after the fall.

With prosecutors investigating the death, Kommersant and some other media suggested foul play.

"The suicide theory has become dominant in the investigation, but all those who knew Ivan Safronov categorically reject it," Kommersant said in an article Monday.

Safronov's colleagues and relatives have described him as a strong, cheerful person who would be extremely unlikely to kill himself.

...