No peace without justice: RSF joins call against amnesty for crimes against journalists in Ukraine

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) joins the call by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium of press freedom associations and several Ukrainian and international media organizations, including the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), against any amnesty for crimes committed against journalists as part of an agreement aimed at ending russia’s war in Ukraine.

While the first version of the 28-point peace plan included the possibility of a general amnesty, RSF reiterates that no lasting peace can be built on impunity for war crimes against civilians, including media professionals.

“No lasting peace can be built on impunity. Since the start of the Kremlin’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, 16 Ukrainian and international journalists have been killed and dozens more injured by russia. Attacks on media infrastructure have multiplied. The perpetrators of these crimes must be identified and held accountable for their actions before international justice and the competent national courts,” emphasizes Pauline Maufrais, Ukraine area manager at RSF.

Since the invasion of February 24, 2022, RSF has filed nine lawsuits against russia for war crimes committed against the media and reporters in Ukraine, before the International Criminal Court (ICC) and before Ukrainian justice, as well as two lawsuits before French justice.