THE NATIONAL UNION OF
JOURNALISTS OF UKRAINE
Zaporizhzhia media workers have launched an information campaign to condemn the illegal arrest of Melitopol journalist Iryna Levchenko and her husband Oleksandr by Russian occupiers.
This follows from a statement by Valentyna Manzhura, the co-coordinator of the Zaporizhzhia Journalists’ Solidarity Center (JSC).
They published an official appeal demanding the release of the hostages of the occupation regime and appealed to the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration with a request to take part in information campaigns. Melitopol journalist Svitlana Zalizetska, whose father was also a hostage once, took part in a press conference in the capital.
“The situation with Iryna and Oleksandr is one of the many proofs of the importance of the profession of a journalist when colleagues from all over the world unite in solidarity and come to help,” noted the head of the regional organization of the NUJU Nataliya Kuzmenko.
As earlier reported, on May 6, journalist Iryna Levchenko and her husband Oleksandr disappeared in Melitopol, occupied by Russian troops. Two weeks later, it was found out that the Levchenkos had been detained by the occupation authorities without explanation.
At one time, Iryna Levchenko was a working journalist in well-known national publications. But now, she and her husband are retired, do not engage in any work or other activities, and have health problems.
Keeping the arrested in inhumane conditions, with almost no food, in a cold basement, and on a concrete floor, they are subjected to physical and moral torture, making ridiculous and far-fetched accusations of terrorism.
As reliable sources informed the Zaporizhzhia regional organization of the NUJU, Iryna was later transferred to another unknown place.
The illegal arrest of a veteran journalist and her husband is another challenge by the occupation authorities of Melitopol to all human and international norms and laws!
NUJU Information Service
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