PARIS -- Russia is the most perilous country in Europe for journalists, who face "an appalling level of danger" there, the World Association of Newspapers said Tuesday.


"Eleven journalists were killed in Russia last year, making it the most dangerous European country in which to practice the profession," the group said in a joint letter with the World Editors Forum to acting President Vladimir Putin.


Paris-based WAN urged Putin to be particularly vigilant in protecting journalists in the run-up to the March 26 presidential election. Although the most obvious danger to journalists lies in war-torn Chechnya, those covering the presidential elections were also in danger, the group said.