US embassy cable - 05MINSK1292

C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 001292 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, BO 
SUBJECT: Mystery Surrounds Death of Independent Journalist 
 
REF: MINSK 1193 
 
Classified by Ambassador George Krol for Reasons 1.4 (B,D) 
 
1. (C) Summary: On October 18, Vasily Grodnikov, 
contributor to the independent daily Narodnaya Volya (NV), 
was found dead in his apartment with an injury caused by a 
blow to the head with a blunt object.  It remains unclear 
whether or not he was murdered, even though the forensic 
results have been released.  End Summary. 
 
At the Scene of the Crime 
------------------------- 
 
2. (U) Early in the morning on October 18, independent 
newspaper NV contributor Vasily Grodnikov, age 67, was 
found dead in his apartment just outside of Minsk.  Police 
examined the scene for five hours and found a broken stool, 
blood stains on the wall paper and clotted blood on 
Grodnikov's head.  There were no signs of forced entry and 
the door was locked from the inside. 
 
But Was It Murder? 
------------------ 
 
3. (C) On October 18, NV Deputy Editor Svetlana Kalinkina 
informed Emboff that Grodnikov's relatives had received 
official confirmation from the police that Grodnikov was 
murdered.  Kalinkina also reported the motive for the 
attack did not appear to be theft, as a large pile of money 
laying on the bookshelf remained untouched. 
 
4. (C) Even after doctors released the official forensic 
report on October 19 stating Grodnikov died after being hit 
in the head with a blunt object, some still subscribe to 
the accidental death theory.  Grodnikov's niece told the 
press her uncle likely fell, hit his head, and left blood 
stains on the wallpaper while trying to get to a phone.  NV 
Editor-in-Chief Iosif Seredich stated, "I do not have any 
reason to believe that [Grodnikov] was killed."  In light 
of recent GOB pressures on NV (reftel), Seredich was 
careful to stress Grodnikov worked on social, not political 
issues.  Seredich also added Grodnikov suffered from health 
problems.  [Note: Grodnikov's niece told the press her 
uncle suffered from hypertension.  However, Grodnikov's 
health issues were more severe, possibly including 
hemorrhaging and difficulty in movement resulting from a 
brutal physical assault several years ago.  Police never 
apprehended Grodnikov's attackers.] 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
5. (C) Although doctors determined the cause of death to be 
a blow to the head with a blunt object, what really 
happened to Grodnikov is still unknown.  According to 
Kalinkina, police confirmed privately to the family that 
Grodnikov was killed.  Rumors abound that Grodnikov's death 
could be connected to the GOB crackdown on NV.  The death 
also coincides with the one-year anniversary of the murder 
of another prominent independent journalist, Veronika 
Cherkasova, whose murder Belarusian authorities have yet to 
solve.  She was murdered also amidst rumors of GOB 
involvement.  But, so far, NV is not making any 
accusations.  Police has yet to complete its investigation 
of the mysterious murder of independent journalist Veranika 
Charkasava, who was killed exactly one year ago. 
 
KROL