Watchdog

The editor in chief of Ekho Moskvy radio, Aleksei Venediktov, says he found a chunk of timber with an ax embedded in it outside his apartment door in Moscow as he returned home today in the early morning hours.

Investigators say the incident might represent a threat to Venediktov and could be connected to his professional activities.

Talking to RFE/RL's Russian Service, Venediktov said neither he nor members of his family would comment on the incident.

Ekho Moskvy is one of the few independent media outlets in Moscow.

The incident comes after a string of murders targeting journalists in Russia.

The latest was in late January, when "Novaya gazeta" journalist Anastasia Baburova was shot and killed on a Moscow street.

Minsk police have detained five activists from the European Belarus campaign.

European Belarus representative Alyaksandr Atroshchankau told RFE/RL's Belarusian Service that the activists were arrested today in an apartment rented by one of the activists, Paval Yukhnevich.

Atroshchankau said the police searched the apartment and confiscated posters, CDs, and notebooks.

Police said the detention of the activists and search operations were held due to information about a theft, but did not elaborate.

The European Belarus is a campaign organized by young activists to propagate democracy and European values in the country.