08 January 2006
Vagif Kochetkov
Beating
Kochetkov, who died on January 8, was the Tula correspondent for the Moscow daily Trud and a columnist for the local newspaper Tulskii Molodoi Kommunar.
He reported on politics and culture, and he undertook some investigative stories.
An unidentified assailant attacked Kochetkov late the night of December 27 2005 as he was approaching his home in Tula, about 125 miles south of Moscow, according to local press reports. Neighbors found Kochetkov lying on the ground after the attack, but the journalist did not immediately seek medical care for a head injury.
Kochetkov was admitted to Vankinskya hospital on December 30 2005, saying at the time that he did not get a good look at his attacker, the Moscow-based news Web site ANNews reported. He was released on January 3, but his condition deteriorated and he was re-admitted and underwent surgery two days later, according to local press reports.
