A 32-year-old Russian journalist, Ilyas Shurpayev, was found dead with a belt around his neck and multiple stab wounds. He worked for a station controlled by the Kremlin. More than a dozen journalists have been killed in Russia since 2000, as it is one of the most dangerous places for reporters. During Vladimir Putin's eight-year presidency, Russia has seen independent media organizations shut down and increasing pressure on print media, reflecting an erosion of post-Soviet freedoms.