MOSCOW, August 2. /TASS/. Russia’s Investigative Committee is considering plans to send a group of detectives to the Central African Republic to probe the murder of three Russian journalists, IC’s Spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko told reporters on Thursday.
"Now the Russian Investigative Committee’s staff members jointly with representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry are considering the issue of sending to the Central African Republic experienced investigators and criminalists to conduct special investigative activities into this criminal case," Petrenko said.
Under the legislation, Russia’s investigative bodies can carry out special probes outside the country with the consent of the receiving party, "if this concerns the crimes falling within the Russian jurisdiction," she said. The evidence collected during these activities can be used to investigate the criminal case and be considered by the court.
The Russian Embassy in the Central African Republic said on Tuesday three men were found dead near the city of Sibut (300 kilometers north of the CAR’s capital city Bangui) on July 30. The Russian Foreign Ministry said later the men had press cards featuring the names Kirill Radchenko, Alexander Rastorguyev and Okhran Dzhemal.
Editor-in-chief of the Ekho Moskvy radio station Alexei Venediktov earlier told TASS that journalist Okhran Dzhemal, camera man Kirill Radchenko and director Alexander Rastorguyev had been working on a documentary in CAR. The relatives of the dead journalists will receive all the necessary assistance, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. Russia’s Investigative Committee launched a criminal investigation into the murder.