Two weeks after the murder of three Russian journalists in the CAR, a private investigation team rejects the official version of their death, the British Independent.

"Both the government of the war-torn African Republic and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintained that men were killed as a result of armed robbery. But the first results of the investigation, commissioned by Putin's critic, former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, suggest that this version does not stand up to criticism. They also point to the involvement of local government forces and, possibly, the Russian private military organization, whose activities were investigated by journalists, "reports correspondent Oliver Carroll.

Journalist Roman Popkov, who reported the first results of the investigation, told the Independent: "Our sources found that the killers built a temporary camp in the place where the ambush occurred. Whoever killed journalists, he left valuable things in the car, including three full cans of gasoline, some of the technical equipment and clothes. And then they turned the camp. None of this looks like a robbery ".

"According to Popkov, local sources also pointed to a car with three armed men of European appearance, allegedly mercenaries, and two local residents. The car passed the checkpoint next to the ambush site shortly after driving the car with reporters. About an hour later the first car returned, moving in the opposite direction, "- writes Carroll.

The report, which rejects the version of the robbery, put forward two others. "The first: journalists were killed by militants associated with" Seleka "- mostly a Muslim rebel group that controls significant parts of the country. Second: the government forces of the CARs were involved.

According to the investigation, none of the explanations do not exclude the involvement of Russian mercenary forces, which are said to have established close relations with both groups, "the journalist said..

According to Popkov, the investigation team is puzzled by the fact that the Russian authorities adhere to the allegations of armed robbery. "It just does not fit the facts.". Insist on this weak explanation is at least strange, "he said..

Translation: newsru. co. il.