Ukrainian journalists call on intl community to take decisive action murder of Roshchyna
Ukrainian journalists are calling on the international community to take decisive and immediate action in connection with the murder of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna in Russian captivity, according to a statement released by the Institute of Mass Information.
"Knowing that Viktoria Roshchyna was imprisoned for more than a year and that she was physically healthy before her Russian captivity, we have every reason to believe that her death was either the result of a deliberate murder or the consequence of the cruel treatment and violence that she experienced during her time in Russian captivity," the institute said in the statement.
Journalists call on the UN, OSCE, PACE and the ICRC to take active action in accordance with their mandates, as well as to take urgent measures to verify the status and protect the rights of 29 Ukrainian civilian journalists who are in Russian captivity.
"Freedom of speech is the foundation of any democracy. When journalists are illegally detained, this is not just an attack on them personally, it is a blow to everyone's right to speak freely and receive information without censorship. We appeal to everyone who believes in democratic values to unite to protect these principles and achieve justice and the return of Ukrainian journalists from captivity, illegally detained by Russia," the institute said.
As reported, Roshchyna, a journalist for the Hromadske Ukrainian publication, was preparing materials about military actions in the east and south of Ukraine in 2022 and was kidnapped by Russian occupiers in Berdiansk, Zaporizhia region. On October 10, 2024, it became known about her death, which was confirmed by the Russian side.
The European Union has issued a statement on the death of Roshchyna and demanded an independent investigation into her death.