Paul Klebnikov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Klebnikov
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| Born | June 3, 1963 New York, USA
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| Died | July 9, 2004 (aged 41) Moscow, Russia
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| Alma mater | St. Bernard's School, Phillips Exeter Academy (1981), University of California, Berkeley, (BA) London School of Economics (PhD) |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Organization | Forbes |
| Known for | 2004 murder |
| Spouse(s) | Helen "Musa" Train |
| Children | Alexander, Gregory, and Sophia |
Paul Klebnikov (born June 3, 1963 – died July 9, 2004) was an American journalist. He was also a historian who studied Russia. Paul worked for Forbes magazine for over ten years. At the time of his death, he was the main editor of the Russian version of Forbes.
Paul was killed in Moscow in 2004. Many people saw his murder as a big problem for investigative journalism in Russia. This type of journalism involves looking deeply into important issues. Three men from Chechnya were accused of being involved in his murder, but they were found not guilty. Even though it seemed like hired killers were behind the crime, the people who planned it have not been found.
Contents
Paul Klebnikov's Early Life
Paul Klebnikov was born in New York City. His family came from Russia and had a long history of military and political service. His ancestors were important figures in Russian history. For example, one of his great-great-great-grandfathers was exiled to Siberia. Another great-grandfather was an admiral in the Russian fleet.
As a child, Paul was very brave and adventurous. He went to St. Bernard's School and Phillips Exeter Academy. He then graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1984. He earned a degree in political science. After that, he joined the Officer Candidates School for the US Marine Corps. He wanted to challenge himself.
Paul later studied at the London School of Economics. There, he earned a PhD and won a special award for his studies on Russia. His doctoral paper was about farming changes in Russia. It looked at how land reforms helped farmers. From 1987 to 1988, he taught at a school in London.
In 1991, Paul married Helen "Musa" Train. She was the daughter of a well-known banker. Paul and Helen had three children together.
Reporting on Russia
Paul Klebnikov started working for Forbes magazine in 1989. He became known for looking into business deals and corruption in post-Soviet Russia. In 1996, he wrote a major article for Forbes. It was called "Godfather of the Kremlin?" The article compared a rich Russian businessman, Boris Berezovsky, to the Sicilian mafia.
Paul's name was not on the article, but everyone knew he wrote it. After the story came out, he received threats. He decided to take a break from reporting in Russia and lived with his family in Paris for a while.
Later, Berezovsky sued Forbes in a British court. He said the article was false. This type of lawsuit, where someone sues in a country with easier libel laws, is sometimes called "libel tourism." Berezovsky won a small part of his case in 2003.
Paul then turned his article into a book in 2000. It was called Godfather of the Kremlin: Boris Berezovsky and the Looting of Russia. The book talked about how Russia's wealth was privatized. It described this process as "the robbery of the century." The book also shared details about alleged corruption.
In 2003, Paul released another book. It was called Conversation with a Barbarian. This book was an interview with a Chechen rebel leader. The interview discussed Islam and Chechen society.
That same year, Paul became the first editor of the Russian Forbes magazine. His family did not want to move to Russia. So, Paul agreed to take the job for only one year. The magazine published only four issues before he died. One article listed Russia's 100 wealthiest people. Some people think this article might have led to his death.
Paul Klebnikov's Tragic Death
On July 9, 2004, Paul Klebnikov was leaving the Forbes office in Moscow. He was attacked on a street late at night. Unknown attackers shot at him from a car. Paul was shot four times. He was still alive at first. However, he died at the hospital. There were problems with the ambulance and a hospital elevator.
Authorities said the attack was a planned killing. The publisher of Russian Forbes said the murder was "definitely linked" to Paul's journalism. Many people thought the magazine's recent story about Russia's richest people might have caused the attack. Others wondered if Berezovsky was involved.
Investigation into the Murder
In 2006, prosecutors accused a Chechen rebel leader of planning the attack. This was the same person Paul had interviewed for his book. Three Chechen men were arrested and tried for the murder. However, all three were found not guilty.
Later, two of the men had their acquittals overturned. This meant they could be tried again. The U.S. Department of State asked Russia to keep investigating the murder. U.S. President George W. Bush also spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin about it.
The new trial was supposed to happen in 2007. But the men could not be found. The trial was delayed and then "quietly stalled." In 2009, Russian authorities agreed to reopen the investigation. They also said they no longer believed the Chechen leader planned the murder. However, they still thought he played some part. As of today, the people who organized Paul Klebnikov's murder have not been identified.
Remembering Paul
In 2004, the Committee to Protect Journalists gave Paul Klebnikov a special award. It was the CPJ International Press Freedom Awards. This award honors journalists who show courage.
An organization called the Paul Klebnikov Fund was created in his memory. It gives an annual award to brave journalists. It also helps young Russian journalists get internships in Western media.
Paul's classmates from Phillips Exeter Academy also honor him. They created an annual lecture series. The first Klebnikov Lecture was held in 2006.
Project Klebnikov
Project Klebnikov is a group of journalists from around the world. They work together to find new information about Paul Klebnikov's murder. They also continue some of the investigative work he started.
The group was founded in July 2005. It includes over 20 journalists and media companies. These include people from Vanity Fair, 60 Minutes, New York University, The Economist, and Forbes. The project was launched on the anniversary of Paul's murder.
See also
- Georgiy Gongadze
- Dmitry Kholodov
- Walter Liggett
- Vladislav Listyev
- Anna Politkovskaya
- List of unsolved murders
