NTV reporter killed in Moscow
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RIA NOVOSTI. February 26, 2006, 10:05 PM
MOSCOW, February 26 (RIA Novosti) - A special correspondent for Russia's NTV television channel, Ilya Zimin, was killed Sunday in Moscow, the channel's press secretary said.
"We confirm that he tragically died," Maria Bezborodova said. She said no details of his death were immediately available.
A police source said the journalist's body had been found in his Moscow apartment. "According to preliminary reports, the body showed no visible wounds," the official said.
At the same time he recalled that the reporter had been assaulted earlier. In April 2005, Zimin was attacked by a group of people of "Caucasian appearance" outside his apartment building, who beat him and broke his leg. The assailants took his wallet, ID and cell phone.
Speaking on Ekho Moskvy radio, another NTV reporter said he had come to Zimin's apartment after work and found him dead. "His apartment was a mess; there were signs of a struggle and it was spattered with blood; he was dead," Vadim Takmenev said.
The Moscow Prosecutor's Office said Ilya Zimin's killing was not related to his professional activities.
"At the moment, there is no evidence to suggest that the crime was linked to Zimin's professional activity," the Prosecutor's Office press service said.
An investigation is underway.
Investigators identify suspect in NTV journalist murder
20:45 | 27/ 02/ 2006
MOSCOW, February 27 (RIA Novosti) - Investigators have identified a suspect in the murder of Russian television channel NTV reporter Ilya Zimin, a source in the investigation team said Monday.
"In the last 24 hours, investigators have reconstructed the crime, and established the identity of an individual who may have killed Ilya Zimin," the source said.
"Police officers know the name of the suspect. An active search for him is underway, and he is likely to be detained soon," the source said.
He said this had most likely been a murder for personal reasons.
NTV special correspondent Ilya Zimin was killed early Sunday in his Moscow apartment. His body was discovered by colleagues a day later. Experts said Zimin's death was the result of craniofacial injuries. The door to the apartment had not been forced open, they said.
Prosecutors said nothing had been stolen from the apartment. They ruled out any link between the murder and the reporter's professional activity.
Yet the apartment was spattered with blood.
It must have been those invisible wounds that were bleeding.