Radio Free Europe
RFE/RL journalists report the news in 22 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established, including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Russia.
Telegram Channel With Vagner Group Ties Shows Apparent Sledgehammer Killing Of Alleged Defector To Ukrainian Side.
Vagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin praised the gruesome video, which he described as having "excellent directional work."
A Telegram channel with close ties to the private Russian mercenary group Vagner has published a video of a fighter who allegedly defected to the Ukrainian side in Russia's war against Ukraine being killed with a sledgehammer.
The video, which is titled The Hammer Of Revenge and contains comments declaring "The traitor was punished," was published on the Gray Zone Telegram channel on November 12. The apparent act of retribution was later commended by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Russian businessman with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin who founded Vagner.
The unverified video shows a man, who identifies himself as 55-year-old Yevgenny Nuzhin, with his head taped to a brick wall in a basement. He said that after being recruited to fight for Russia against Ukraine, he changed sides on September 4 to "fight against the Russians."
Nuzhin goes on to say he was abducted in Kyiv on October 11.
"I got hit over the head and lost consciousness and came around in this cellar," he said. "They told me I would be tried."
At that point, a man in combat fatigues appears to strike Nuzhin with full force with a sledgehammer to the head, causing him to slump to the floor before the unidentified man delivers another blow to the head. Nuzhin's body is not shown after the second strike.
RFE/RL was unable to verify the authenticity of the video or determine whether Nuzhin ever defected to the Ukrainian side.
In September, Nuzhin appeared in a video interview with Ukrainian journalist Yuri Butusov in which he said he was a convicted murderer who was recruited in jail by the Vagner group and criticized Russia's war against Ukraine.
Nuzhin said he joined Vagner with the intention of surrendering as soon as possible in order to fight for Ukraine. He said that after the war he hoped to stay in Ukraine, where he said his sister and uncle live.
Prigozhin has been shown on video offering Russian prisoners their freedom if they joined Vagner as part of the effort to boost the Kremlin's war effort in Ukraine.
In response to a media request asking Prigozhin to comment on the video allegedly showing Nuzhin being killed, the Vagner head said on November 13 that the footage showed excellent directional work, being taken in one cut, but should have been called "A Dog Receives A Dog's Death."
"I prefer to watch history in the theater," Prigozhin added in the comments released by his spokeswoman. "As for the sledgehammer, in this show it is clear that he [Nuzhin] did not find happiness in Ukraine, and met with unkind but fair people."
There has been no confirmation of Nuzhin's death from the Ukrainian authorities.
On November 13, Gulag.net , a website that exposes prison abuse in Russia, called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to explain how Nuzhin could have been kidnapped after surrendering to Ukrainian forces.
Srebrenica Genocide Must Be Condemned, Denial Banned, 2 Members Of Bosnian Presidency Tell UN.
The 1995 genocide in Srebrenica must be globally condemned, support for victims must be expressed, and denial of genocide and glorification of war criminals be banned to prevent future similar tragedies, two members of the tripartite presidency of...
U.S. National Dies In Occupied Donetsk, Says Russian Journalist
Russell Bentley, a U.S. national, has died in the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk in Ukraine, Margarita Simonyan, the head of Russia's state media outlet RT, wrote on Telegram on April 19.
Imprisoned Mother Of Chechen Activists Loses Bid For Early Release For Health Reasons.
Zarema Musayeva, the imprisoned mother of three self-exiled outspoken Chechen opposition activists, has lost a bid for early release because of her medical condition after health officials in Russia's North Caucasus region of Chechnya changed her ...
Ukraine, Israel Aid Advances In Rare House Vote As Democrats Help Republicans.
With rare bipartisan momentum, the U.S. House of Representatives pushed ahead on April 19 on a foreign aid package of $95 billion for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and humanitarian support as a robust coalition of lawmakers helped it clear a procedural...
Detained Former Karabakh Separatist Official Begins Hunger Strike, Says Family.
Ruben Vardanian, a former Russian citizen of Armenian descent who served as prime minister in the de facto government of the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, has begun a hunger strike in a Baku prison, his family said on April 19.
USC cancels valedictorian’s speech citing security concerns.
ABC News’ Phil Lipof spoke with pro-Palestinian University of Southern California valedictorian Asna Tabassum about the controversy surrounding her canceled graduation speech. —–– Subscribe to ABC News on YouTube: Watch 24/7 coverage of breaking n...
Volcano eruption forces thousands to evacuate
At least 11,000 people were forced to evacuate after a volcano erupted in Indonesia. The government is encouraging residents to leave with fears that part of the volcano could break off into the ocean and trigger a tsunami. » Subscribe to NBC News...
Unprecedented flooding soaks Dubai
A massive storm that flooded roads and closed the airport in Dubai also killed at least 18 people in neighboring Oman. » Subscribe to NBC News: NBC News Digital is a collection of innovative and powerful news brands that deliver compelling, divers...
Tesla asks shareholders to reinstate on $56 billion pay deal for Elon Musk.
Tesla is asking its shareholders to vote again on a $56 billion pay package for the company's CEO Elon Musk just months after a Delaware judge voided the deal. Washington Street Journal business columnist Tim Higgins breaks down the companies requ...
‘Gutfeld!’: Birthday cake writing goes wrong
Greg Gutfeld and guests discuss the woman who ordered a birthday cake with ‘Aries Baby’ on it and how it went wrong on ‘Gutfeld!’ Subscribe to Fox News! Watch more Fox News Video: Watch Fox News Channel Live: FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour al...
Supreme Court to weigh in on criminalization of homelessness.
ABC News’ Devin Dwyer explores the criminalization of homelessness as communities use punitive measures to clear encampments. The Supreme Court tackles the case next week. —–– Subscribe to ABC News on YouTube: Watch 24/7 coverage of breaking news ...