Russian journalist still critical after brutal assault

A leading Russian journalist is still in a critical condition after being brutally beaten by two men outside his home.

Oleg Kashin’s legs, jaw and fingers were all fractured in the vicious assault, which police are treating as attempted murder.

The 30 year old political reporter for Russian daily Kommersant remains in an induced coma. While it is unclear what the exact motive for the attack was, suspicion has fallen on banned opposition groups unhappy with his stories.

Speaking to reporters Kashin’s wife Eugenia Milova said: ‘‘Judging by the fact that Oleg’s jaw, fingers and legs are broken, this obviously looks like a warning to him from somebody that he shouldn’t look for, speak or publish his stories.’‘

President Dmitry Medvedev condemned the attack on Kashin. But, critics accuse the government of not doing enough to solve several journalist murders, including that of Anna Politkovskaya. The outspoken Kremlin critic was gunned down in the lift to her apartment building in 2006.

Russia remains one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists.

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