Reporter planned story on arms deal

Before his mysterious death, Kommersant journalist Ivan Safronov was on the verge of reporting a story about sensitive arms deals with Syria and Iran despite warnings that he would be prosecuted for disclosing classified information, it was reported Tuesday. Kommersant reported that Safronov planned to file a story on the sale of Iskander surface-to-surface missiles and SU-30 fighters to Syria, and S-300 air defence systems to Iran. The newspaper added that the story was sure to have prompted a Federal Security Service, or FSB, investigation into disclosure of classified information. The journalist had been warned that the investigation into his story ‘would be completed,’ Safronov was reported to have told fellow journalists Feb. 27, Kommersant reported. Safronov apparently never said who had issued the warning, but he did say he had been dissuaded from writing his article. He later changed his mind, telling his editors he planned to file a story. Three days later, Safronov fell out of a fifth-floor window of his apartment building. (Moscow Times,March 07, 2007)

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