Influential international organizations demand immediate release of journalist Viktoria Roshchina from russia

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ and EFJ) call on the russian authorities to immediately release Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchina and stop the practice of illegal detaining Ukrainian journalists in the occupied territories.

“CPJ strongly condemns the detention by the russian authorities of journalist Viktoria Roshchina, who disappeared 300 days ago while reporting on the russian-occupied territory of Ukraine,” said Gulnoza Said, the coordinator of CPJ‘s Europe and Central Asia program.

According to her, journalists should be able to freely report on the war without fear of reprisals. In addition, the Ukrainian authorities should include Ukrainian captured journalists on the prisoner exchange lists.

“We are in full solidarity with Viktoria Roshchina and all journalists who are under constant pressure from the Kremlin,” is the position of IFJ and EFJ, which express deep concern about the lack of press freedom and media protection in the russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.

Thousands of Ukrainian civilians (including journalists) are currently in russian captivity without grounds, court charges, or access to a lawyer.

“We demand their unconditional release!” journalists’ associations emphasize.

Viktoria Roshchina disappeared on August 3, 2023, in the occupied territory from where she was reporting. The russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that the Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchina was detained.

The NUJU demands the immediate and unconditional release of Viktoria Roshchina and other illegally captured journalists.

NUJU Information Service