Dzhemal, Rastorguyev and Radchenko had been sent to CAR by the Investigation Control Center (ICC), an investigative journalism project sponsored by exiled former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. All three were employed on a freelance basis.

They were ambushed by about 10 men, all wearing turbans and speaking Arabic, according to Marcelin Yoyo from the Sibut local administration.

At that point the attackers either opened fire on the car or took the three journalists out and shot them by the side of the road.

Their driver somehow managed to escape and raise the alarm.