Ukrainian journalist Svitlana Zalizetska spoke at the U.S. Department of State about her captured colleagues

Editor-in-chief of RIA Pivden Svitlana Zalizetska spoke at the U.S. Department of State about the captured journalists from Melitopol, the publication reports.

The meeting was held with Christopher Anderson (director of the Office of Natural Rights of the U.S. Department of State).

The meeting in Washington was organized by the Committee to Protect Journalists’ Rights, which is fighting for the release of Ukrainian journalists from russian prisons. Together with Olena Rudenko, sister of the captured Melitopol journalist Iryna Levchenko, and Vladyslav Yesypenko, a Radio Liberty journalist released from a russian prison, Svitlana Zalizetska raised the issue of exchanging civilians, including Ukrainian journalists.

Among the possible courses of action discussed were:

“Including the issue of the release of Ukrainian journalists in the peace talks between russia and Ukraine, which are being held under the mediation of the United States.”

“Requesting russia to provide information on the current whereabouts of Anastasiya Hlukhovska and Iryna Levchenko, the charges brought against them, and the conditions of their detention.”

“Insisting that russia include in the lists for the exchange of prisoners the following journalists from Melitopol: Iryna Levchenko, Anastasiya Hlukhovska, Yana Suvorova, Heorhii Levchenko, Vladyslav Hershon, and others.”

“Requesting information from russia about the circumstances of the death of journalist Victoria Roshchyna in a russian prison in 2024.”