Case on the car accident that killed Dim TV war correspondent to be considered in closed trial

The Slovyansk City Court (Donetsk oblast) has decided to consider the case of the carr accident that killed Dim TV war correspondent Anastasia Volkova in close trial.

The ruling was issued on March 18, 2025, reports Anastasia’s friend, journalist Maryna Tereshchenko, to Valentyna Troyan, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Luhansk oblast.

Anastasia Volkova. Screenshot from Dim TV

Maryna says that the prosecutor insisted that a closed trial was necessary, arguing that the defendant is an army serviceman. The defendant and his attorney supported the prosecutor in holding a closed trial in the case.

However, the victims' representative, lawyer and human rights advocate Vira Yastrebova, objected to a closed trial. She pointed out that there are no grounds for one in these proceedings.

“A closed trial is only possible in exceptional cases (for example, to protect state secrets or victims' privacy), and the decision to hold one must be justified, not arbitrary. There is also a risk of manipulation. The lack of publicity can limit the defendant’s right to defense, since public control contributes to the impartiality of the court,” Maryna Tereshchenko quoted lawyer Vira Yastrebova.

The lawyer reminded that the European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly stressed that restrictions on publicity must be justified by specific circumstances.

Vira Yastrebova also emphasized that there must be a clear explanation from the court regarding the grounds for holding a closed trial, otherwise this decision may be appealed, and the court's motivation for choosing this procedure for the review must be explained in the procedural decision (resolution).

Previously

In December 2024, the State Bureau of Investigation issued a suspicion notice to the serviceman who caused the May 30, 2024 traffic accident in Slovyansk (Donetsk oblast) that killed Dim TV reporter Anastasia Volkova. Anastasia was buried on June 4, 2024 in Slovyansk.

Anastasia Volkova worked with Dim TV, Novyny Donbasu, and Hromadske Radio.

It was reported on January 13, 2025 that the Babushkinsky District Court of Dnipro had released the suspect in the traffic accident that killed Dim TV war correspondent Anastasia Volkova on bail.