Russian investigative reporter dies after balcony fall
A Soviet Style Apartment Block, also know as Panel Buildings, in Russian Federation.
Russian investigative journalist Maksim Borodin of Yekaterinburg has died of injuries sustained on April 12 when he fell from the window of his fifth-floor apartment.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called for a full and impartial investigation into Borodin's death.
"There are no grounds for launching a case", the regional Russian Investigative Committee told the TASS state news agency in a statement Monday.
"Several versions are being considered, including that this was an unfortunate accident, but there is no sign a crime has been committed", it said. The keys were found inside, leading police to claim there was no foul play. "He was one of the best."Police have not opened a criminal case into Borodin's death, indicating they are treating it as a suicide or accident.Borodin's death on Sunday has raised questions in Russian Federation, where 38 journalists have been murdered since 1992, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists".
Local police said they did not see any foul play, but his death prompted intense speculation among friends and colleagues.
Borodin's friend, Vyacheslav Bashkov, on April 15 wrote on his Facebook page that Borodin contacted him at 5 a.m. on April 11 and said that "security forces" wearing camouflage and face masks were on his balcony and in the interior staircase of his building.
In his Facebook post, Bashkov said that he went to local police after he found out about Borodin's death, but police seemed uninterested and "did not question [him] about much". Just one hour later, Bashkov wrote, Borodin called him back to say he had been mistaken and the officers appeared to be carrying out a drill. "But he didn't write anything; and on the 13th, the media reported that Maksim had been found under his balcony and he was in the emergency room". "Let's switch on our logic here", Yulia Fedotova told The Times.