Former oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky unveils new ‘Justice for Journalists’ foundation

The former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his past business partner Leonid Nezvlin have unveiled a new foundation called “Justice for Journalists,” which will “organize and coordinate international investigations into violent crimes committed against journalists.”

According to the group’s website, Khodorkovsky and Nezvlin have pledged an “initial sum” of $5 million to fund the organization, which is run by an advisory board that includes Khodorkovsky, Nezvlin, American journalist David Satter, British journalist Luke Harding, former RFE/RL president and think tank scholar Jeffrey Gedmin, and Novaya Gazeta founder Dmitry Muratov. The foundation also says it is “open for cooperation with international media, human rights activists, and investigative organizations,” without listing any existing partners.

On July 30, reporter Orkhan Dzhemal, director Alexander Rastorguyev, and cameraman Kirill Radchenko were murdered in the Central African Republic, while collecting documentary evidence of Russian mercenaries’ activities in the country. Khodorkovsky financed the expedition, as well as a follow-up trip by journalists to investigate how the three reporters died.

A note to readers: Mikhail Khodorkovsky was initially a passive investor in Meduza, but he left the project after failing to come to mutual terms with Meduza’s management.