THE European Union (EU) expressed its sadness this Friday following the death of the Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchina in a Russian prison. The 27-year-old journalist was captured by the Russian forces during an attack in an eastern area Ukraine occupied by Russian forces in August 2023.
“THE EU “Is shocked by the death of the independent journalist while she was illegally and arbitrarily detained in Russia,” the EU foreign affairs spokesperson said. Pierre Stanoduring a press conference from Brussels.
Stano also condemned attacks and intimidation against journalists, emphasizing that currently in Ukraine they carry out their work in difficult conditions. “There can be no impunity for human rights violations“, he indicated.
On the situation of political prisoners in RussiaStano stressed that Moscow is bound by “international law,” the “Geneva Convention” and its “own Constitution” on providing “non-degrading treatment to prisoners in its prison system.”
Famous Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna died in prison in Russia.
She was kidnapped by the Russians more than a year ago and was to be the subject of a prisoner exchange with Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/byWDbsRIRZ
– Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) October 10, 2024
Russian persecution of journalists
Since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has continued to persecute journalistsnot only Ukrainians, but the whole world. During these two years, many journalists have been victims of attacks of all kinds.
At least twelve local journalists have been arrested, and some convicted, by the Russian army. In CrimeaFor example, the repression against journalists who cover the current situation of the conflict has intensified.
Iryna Danylovichjournalist who collaborated with several local media outlets, was kidnapped by Russian domestic intelligence forces (FSB) in April 2022, and in July 2023 she was transferred to a prison in Russia. In Melitopol, an occupied city in southeastern Ukraine, several media professionals who collaborated with the Ukrainian news site’s Telegram channel RIA-Melitopol They were arrested and accused of “espionage”, they are currently still in prison.
Other journalists who died in the line of work during the war include: Arman SoldinFrench-Bosnian journalist from Agence France-Presse (AFP)hit during a bombing, and Bohdan BitikUkrainian journalist and fixer, who ended up killed by a Russian sniper while covering the conflict.
