EFJ calls to intensify pressure on Russia for the release of 28 Ukrainian journalists

At least 28 Ukrainian journalists and media workers remain unlawfully detained by the Russian Federation as of May 2026 — following arbitrary detention, politically motivated persecution, fabricated criminal charges, or unlawful imprisonment in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. The resolution “On continued solidarity with Ukrainian journalists unlawfully detained by the Russian Federation,” tabled by the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, was adopted at the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) Annual Meeting on 18–19 June 2026 in Ankara.

The resolution instructs the EFJ Steering Committee to strengthen international advocacy for the release of detained journalists, to ensure systematic registration of cases through the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism, and to work jointly with the IFJ to advocate for the establishment of an international mechanism for the release of civilian hostages unlawfully detained by Russia.

Full text of the resolution

On continued solidarity with Ukrainian journalists unlawfully detained by the Russian Federation

Tabled by the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (Ukraine)

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) Annual Meeting on 18-19 June 2026 in Ankara,

Recalling the Resolution “On the Immediate Unconditional Release of Detained Ukrainian Journalists and Justice for Viktoriia Roshchyna”, adopted by the EFJ General Meeting in Budapest in 2025, as well as the resolution adopted at the EFJ Annual Meeting in Prishtina in 2024 calling for the immediate release of Ukrainian journalists unlawfully detained by the Russian Federation;

Recognising that sustained international pressure remains one of the few effective mechanisms contributing to the release of unlawfully detained journalists, as demonstrated by the release of Ukrainian journalists Vladyslav Yesypenko and Dmytro Khyliuk;

Alarmed that, according to verified data of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, at least 28 Ukrainian journalists and media workers remain unlawfully detained by the Russian Federation as of May 2026 following arbitrary detention, politically motivated persecution, fabricated criminal charges, or unlawful imprisonment in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine;

Deeply concerned that detained journalists continue to be subjected to torture, threats, inhuman treatment, denial of medical care, psychological pressure, and violations of fundamental human rights;

Aware that the Russian Federation systematically uses fabricated criminal prosecutions to remove journalists from the category of civilians protected under international humanitarian law;

Noting the absence of any formal international mechanism capable of securing the release of civilian hostages unlawfully detained by the Russian Federation;

Affirming the importance of sustained public attention, parliamentary engagement, and coordinated international advocacy in protecting unlawfully detained journalists and supporting their families;

The EFJ Annual Meeting expresses solidarity with Ukrainian journalists unlawfully detained by the Russian Federation and instructs the EFJ Steering Committee to:

1. Strengthen international advocacy efforts aimed at securing the release of unlawfully detained Ukrainian journalists through direct engagement with European Union institutions, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, UNESCO, relevant United Nations mechanisms, and national governments;
2. Promote sustained international visibility of cases involving unlawfully detained Ukrainian journalists and media workers, including through EFJ communication channels and cooperation with partner organisations;
3. Advocate for the inclusion of the issue of unlawfully detained Ukrainian journalists in international media freedom, human rights, parliamentary, and intergovernmental forums;
4. Encourage EFJ member organisations to participate in coordinated solidarity initiatives, including letter-writing campaigns, public advocacy, and parliamentary engagement in support of unlawfully detained Ukrainian journalists, in coordination with the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine and relevant authorised institutions;
5. Ensure systematic registration, updating, and follow-up of cases involving unlawfully detained Ukrainian journalists through the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists;
6. Support and disseminate advocacy tools, including documentary testimonies, survivor accounts, and journalistic investigations aimed at raising awareness of the fate of unlawfully detained Ukrainian journalists and their families, including the documentary Free The Voices, produced by the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine with the support of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), based on testimonies of released journalists and family members of those still held in captivity;
7. Work jointly with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and relevant regional partners to advocate for the development of an international mechanism aimed at securing the release of civilian hostages unlawfully detained by the Russian Federation and ensuring accountability for these violations.

Annex: Ukrainian journalists and media workers unlawfully detained by the Russian Federation (verified NUJU data, May 2026):

According to verified monitoring conducted by the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine and partner human rights organisations, at least 28 Ukrainian journalists and media workers remain unlawfully detained by the Russian Federation as of May 2026:

Oleksii Bessarabov, Volodymyr Dudka, Dmytro Shtyblikov, Ernes Ametov, Marlen Asanov, Timur Ibragimov, Seyran Saliiev, Server Mustafaev, Ruslan Suleymanov, Rustem Sheikhaliev, Remzi Bekirov, Osman Arifmemetov, Amet Suleymanov, Asan Akhtemov, Serhii Tsyhipa, Iryna Danylovych, Yevhen Ilchenko, Vilen Temeryanov, Iryna Levchenko, Heorhii Levchenko, Anastasiia Hlukhovska, Vladyslav Hershon, Yana Suvorova, Oleksandr Malyshev, Maksym Rupchov, Rustem Osmanov, Aziz Azizov, Hennadii Osmak.

NUJU Information Service