THE NATIONAL UNION OF
JOURNALISTS OF UKRAINE
The demand to immediately release Ukrainian journalists illegally detained by the RF was supported by the delegates of the Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ).
The appeal was proposed by the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), a member of EFJ, which represents almost 300,000 journalists in Europe.
“Well-known journalist and NUJU member Iryna Levchenko has been in russian captivity for more than a year. Dmytro Khyliuk was captured by the russians when the latter tried to occupy Kyiv back in 2022. Vladyslav Yesypenko, Viktoriya Roshchina, Iryna Danylovych, Server Mustafayev… these are all the names of journalists whom russia must definitely release,” urged NUJU President Sergiy Tomilenko from the EFJ rostrum, showing portraits of imprisoned colleagues.
Addresses to the European Commission, the governments of European countries, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and EFJ members were unanimously adopted by the delegates of the Annual Meeting.
Here is the text of the joint address:
What concerns the immediate release of Ukrainian journalists illegally detained by the RF
At least 28 (as of May 24 – 30) Ukrainian professional and citizen journalists are in captivity as a result of arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, or falsified charges by the RF.
Many journalists have been charged or sentenced to prison terms disproportionate to their journalistic duties, which they continued to perform under russian occupation. The whereabouts of some journalists are still unknown, or their detention is not confirmed by the russian authorities, which makes even the slightest control over the conditions of detention of media workers impossible.
Illegally detained journalists are deprived not only of the right to practice their profession but also of the legal protection defined by the European Convention on Human Rights. In some cases, journalists were or are being subjected to torture, threats (including threats to massacre their relatives), pressure, and constant humiliation of their dignity. Our colleagues in places of captivity do not receive adequate medical care.
According to international law, journalists in the war zone are civilians; they cannot be captured and included in prisoner exchange lists. Media representatives must be unconditionally released. But the RF, which despises international law, refuses to release illegally detained journalists and uses these cases to blackmail and intimidate independent professional and citizen Ukrainian journalists in the occupied territories.
The Congress of the EFJ calls for:
The European Commission, the governments of European countries:
- to increase diplomatic and sanctions pressure on the authorities of the RF for the immediate release of all illegally persecuted Ukrainian journalists;
- to initiate the creation of an international mechanism for the release of Ukrainian professional and citizen journalists as civilians illegally detained by the RF;
- to, together with other international institutions and humanitarian missions, take measures to establish the whereabouts of Ukrainian journalists who have gone missing in the occupied territory.
Management of the ICRC:
- to check the conditions of detention of all Ukrainian professional and citizen journalists illegally detained by the RF, provide them with guaranteed access to medical care, and provide a public report to the public.
Members of the EFJ:
- to express solidarity with imprisoned Ukrainian journalists by spreading information about these cases in coordination with the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine.
The Conference instructs the EFJ Steering Committee to:
- apply directly to the relevant bodies and institutions of the European Union or the relevant governments of European countries to discuss the issues raised;
- promptly submit proposals for cases of illegally detained journalists to the Council of Europe Platform to draw attention to and ensure response to such cases.
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