Journalists killed in South Ossetia
A Moscow radio station reports two journalists have been killed in Tskhinvali, the capital of the embattled region of South Ossetia. The International Herald Tribune has more,
The station, Ekho Moskvy, cited a Russian Newsweek magazine correspondent Orkhan Dzhemal as saying that both went into the separatist Georgian province from the Georgian side and were shot by South Ossetian insurgents.
The report identified one as a photographer for the Russian news agency ITAR-Tass. The other’s affiliation was not immediately clear. ITAR-Tass has reported that one of its photographers had not been heard from for two days. link
According to Greenslade the Echo of Moscow has named the two as Georgian reporters Alexander Klimchuk and Grigol Chikhladze. Their bodies were reportedly found in a street in the capital. Meanwhile APA suggest a third Polish reporter may also have been killed,
“I cannot say anything now. Information agencies spread information about killing of polish journalist during military operations today. Unfortunately, I have not additional informationâ€, [Alexander Lomaia, Secretary of National Security Council of Georgia] said. Two wounded Turkish journalists were taken out form conflict zone by the help of Russian soldiers. link
There’s more discussion on the reported death of Alexander Klimchuk on the LightStalkers forum.
UPDATE: From Committee to Protect Journalists,
Two journalists were reported killed, at least eight were injured, and two have gone missing since fighting erupted between Georgian, Russian, and local forces in the disputed region of South Ossetia. No press-related casualties have been immediately reported in the conflict in another breakaway Georgian region, Abkhazia. link