Russian newspaper to seek arms licenses for its journalists

MOSCOW, January 22 (RIA Novosti) - The Novaya Gazeta newspaper will ask Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) to issue arms licenses to its staff after one of its journalists was shot in broad daylight in downtown Moscow, a co-owner of the daily said on Thursday.

Novaya Gazeta journalist Anastasia Baburova, 25, died on Monday hours after being shot by an unknown gunman, who also killed lawyer Stanislav Markelov. Investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who also worked for newspaper, was gunned down in an elevator in her Moscow apartment building in October 2006.

"We will address an unusual request to the Federal Security Service: If you are unable to ensure our security, let our journalists have firearms," Alexander Lebedev said

He added that the newspaper had already made a similar request of the Federal Security Service, but it was denied.

"Unfortunately, I am now unable to ensure security of our journalists," Lebedev said.

Russia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. Reporters Without Borders, an international press freedom organization, said that 21 journalists were murdered in country between 2000 and 2007.