Statement on the murder of journalist Viktoria Roshchyna
We, journalists and media professionals, express our deepest condolences to the family and colleagues of Viktoria Roshchyna, a brave and talented Ukrainian journalist who died in Russian captivity at just 27 years old.
Knowing that Viktoria Roshchyna had been in captivity for over a year and that she was physically healthy before her imprisonment by Russian forces, we have every reason to believe that her death was either the result of intentional murder or a consequence of the cruel treatment and violence she suffered while in Russian captivity.
Viktoria Roshchyna was detained on August 3, 2023, in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine while performing her journalistic duties, planning to report on the lives of people under occupation. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, she died on September 19, 2024.
We urge our colleagues in Ukrainian, foreign, and international media to highlight this tragedy, conduct independent investigations into the circumstances surrounding Viktoria's death, and help tell the world about the fate of Ukrainian journalists currently held in Russian captivity.
International institutions mandated to protect human rights must act decisively and immediately. We call on international organizations to take urgent action to verify the condition and protect the rights of 29 civilian Ukrainian journalists currently held in Russian captivity.
We call on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to fully execute its mandate and regularly visit prisoners, particularly civilians held by Russia in occupied Ukrainian or Russian territories. The current statute and response of the ICRC do not match the scale of the immense humanitarian crisis caused by Russian aggression. We demand that the ICRC establish monitoring missions in Russian prisons holding Ukrainian journalists and do everything possible to ensure that detainees' basic rights are upheld, and that they are protected from abuse.
We urge the United Nations (UN) to activate its structures, such as the Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and establish an independent commission to investigate the death of Viktoria Roshchyna. We also call on the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression to report publicly on the situation of Ukrainian journalists in Russian captivity, as well as on other crimes committed by Russia against Ukrainian media and journalists.
We call on the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to use its human rights monitoring tools for an urgent review of the conditions of Ukrainian journalists held in Russia. We also call on the OSCE to appoint a special mission, led by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, to investigate the illegal detentions, murders, and persecution of Ukrainian journalists by Russia.
We urge the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to hold urgent debates on Russia’s systematic violations of journalists' rights, particularly the murder of Viktoria Roshchyna, and to initiate a special resolution condemning the killing of Ukrainian journalists and calling for sanctions against Russian officials responsible for these crimes. We also call on PACE to appoint a special rapporteur to report on Russian crimes against Ukrainian journalists and the threats to journalists' safety caused by Russian aggression.
Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of any democracy. When journalists are unlawfully detained, it is not only an attack on individuals but also an assault on the right of everyone to freely express themselves and receive uncensored information. We appeal to all those who believe in democratic values to unite in defending these principles and seeking justice for the detained Ukrainian journalists wrongfully imprisoned by Russia.
The statement is open for signing by media professionals. To sign, please fill out the Google form.
Details for Donations to Support Viktoria Roshchyna’s Family:
For payments through a card:
4149 4991 4394 6851
For payments with banking details:
Recipient: Volodymyr Mykhailovych Roshchyn
Account: 26208888025983
IBAN: UA173052990000026208888025983
Bank: PrivatBank, Kyiv, Ukraine
MFO: 305299
Purpose of payment: Charitable contribution to support Viktoria Roshchyna’s family
Signatories:
- Media Movement
- Sevgil Musaieva, Editor-in-Chief, Ukrayinska Pravda
- Khrystyna Kotsyra, Editor-in-Chief, hromadske
- Yevhenia Motorevska, Head of Investigations of War Crimes, The Kyiv Independent
- Anastasiya Stanko, Editor-in-Chief, Slidstvo.info
- Oksana Romaniuk, Director, Institute of Mass Information
- Nataliya Ligachova, Head of NGO “Detector Media”
- Yana Brenzey, Presenter, “Vikna-Novyny,” STB
- Olga Padiiryakova, Editor-in-Chief, ZMINA
- Tetyana Kozak, Editor-in-Chief, “Graty”
- Anastasia Rudenko, Founder of “Rubryka,” Head of the Donetsk and Luhansk Region Media, “Eastern Variant”
- Vadym Karp’yak, Journalist
- Alya Shandra, Editor-in-Chief, Euromaidan Press
- Svitlana Ostapa, Chair of the Supervisory Board, UA, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, “Detector Media”
- Iryna Zemlyana, Media Expert, Safety Trainer, Institute of Mass Information
- Lesya Lutsyuk, Communications Specialist, Institute of Mass Information
- Oleksandr Ruban, Communications Specialist, Journalist, Institute of Mass Information
- Valentyna Troyan, Representative, Institute of Mass Information in Luhansk Oblast, Ukrainian Radio Host
- Angelina Karyakina, Journalist, Co-Founder of the Public Interest Journalism Lab, Advisor to the Head of the Board, UA
- Yana Osadcha, Journalist, Editor, “Real Newspaper”
- Oksana Trokoz, Representative, Institute of Mass Information in Zhytomyr Oblast
- Ruslan Khalapov, Journalist
- Liudmyla Yankina, Human Rights Activist, Expert in Civil Society Protection
- Kateryna Sereda, Editor-in-Chief, “MykVisti,” Representative, Institute of Mass Information in Mykolaiv Oblast
- Anna Murlykina, Editor-in-Chief, Mariupol Site, 0629.com.ua
- Valentyna Gurova, Journalist
- Anton Naumlyuk
- Kateryna Sergatskova, Executive Director, 2402 Foundation, Daily Humanity (Ukraine, Denmark)
- Viktoriya Andrushkiv, Journalist
- Oleksandra Malevych, Editor-in-Chief, Mykolaiv Branch, UA
- Editorial Team, “Suspilne Mykolaiv”
- Oleksandr Trokhymchuk, Correspondent, Gazeta.ua
- Khrystyna Dichko, Journalist
- Liudmyla Tyahnioryadno, Journalist, Host, Ukrainian Radio
- Anastasia Moskvycheva, Journalist, “Graty”
- Serhiy Nikitenko, “MOST”
- Iryna Polulyakh, Correspondent, Kropyvnytskyi Branch, UA
- NGO “Eastern Human Rights Group”
- Olena Hnietska, Correspondent, “MOST: Kherson”
- Kateryna Lysiuk, Manager/Coordinator, IMI Mediabaza Dnipro
- Tetyana Pechonchyk, Head of the Board, Center for Human Rights ZMINA
- Iryna Nebesna, Regional Representative, Institute of Mass Information, Ternopil Oblast
- Stas Yurchenko, Photo Editor, “Graty”
- Anna Babinets, Head of NGO “Slidstvo.Info”
- Inna Varenytsia, Journalist
- Olena Zhykalova, Journalist
- Yanina Korniyenko, Journalist, “Slidstvo.Info”
- Oleksandra Yefymenko, correspondent, "Hromadske Radio" and "Suspilne Crimea"
- Yana Chumachenko, editor-in-chief, "Severodonetsk Online"
- Serhiy Okunev, journalist, New Voice (NV)
- Victoria Marchenko, chief of broadcasting to de-occupied and temporarily occupied territories, Ukrainske Radio, PBCU
- Dmytro Klymenko, editor-in-chief, "Suspilne Zhytomyr"
- Yulia Yermushova, video editing director, PBCU Mykolaiv
- Anastasia Isayenkova, producer, "Suspilne News", PBCU
- Maria Sobol, digital team expertm PBCU Mykolaiv
- Oleksandra Novosel, producer, "Suspilne Kharkiv"
- Khrystyna Havryliuk, chief producer, "Suspilne News"
- Anna Bova, team manager, Gazeta.ua
- Yana Mashkova, media analyst, Institute of Mass Information
- Nastya Horpinchenko, journalist, "Slidstvo.Info"
- Hanna Sokolova Stekh, journalist, Deutsche Welle
- Valeria Hetsko, head of "Suspilne Kharkiv"
- Ksenia Hubanova, deputy chief editor, InModernUA
- Victoria Beha, deputy chief editor, hromadske
- Vira Zaporozhets, journalist
- Olena Dub, media expert, journalist
- Ivan Diakonov, news editor, "Ukrainian Pravda"
- Anastasia Rodi (Mahazova), journalist
- Olha Kovalyova, Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers
- Yelyzaveta Sokurenko, chief of war crime recording, ZMINA Human Rights Center
- Olha Chorna, journalist, "Detector Media"
- Iryna Maliukova, journalist, "18000"
- Oksana Khudytska, editor
- Yulia Kurylova, associate professor, Zaporizhzhia National University
- Anna Uyhyma, film director, Public Interest Journalism Lab
- Viacheslav Ratynskyi, photographer
- Tetyana Kuznetsova, chief of social media, "Slidstvo.Info"
- Vitalina Pukhyr, chief editor, Odesa Online
- Denys Bulavin, journalist, hromadske
- Yaroslava Tymoshchuk, journalist
- Darya Bezruchenko, reporter, TheUkrainians
- Oksana Savoskina, journalist, hromadske
- Artem Zyabkin, journalist, "Suspilne"
- Oleksandra Chernova, chief of digital content and social media, Suspilne Broadcasting
- Oleksandra Ochman, producer, WDR / ARD Ukraine
- Yaroslav Vinokurov, editor, "Economichna Pravda"
- Anastasia Ampilohova, bit.ua
- Maryna Herasymenko, "Kultura na Chasi" editor, PBCU
- Victoria Korduban, correspondent, "Suspilne Crimea"
- Oleh Bulakh, presenter, "Apostrof TV"
- Kateryna Yerska, communications manager, "Ukraine House" (Cluj-Napoca, Romania)
- Anastasia Poya, freelancer journalist, formerly with "Ukrainian Pravda" and Hromadske
- Ivan Verstiuk, journalist, Hromadske
- Anna Siryk, journalist, "Apostrof TV"
- Yulia Spasokukotska, editor, Suspilne Broadcasting
- Yevhenia Lutsenko, deputy website chief editor, "Suspilne Culture"
- Olha Volynets, producer, PBCU (Suspilne Broadcasting)
- Tetyana Teren, executive director, NGO "PEN Ukraine"
- Yaroslav Lutsyk, owner of VitaStudio (Lviv)
- Vladyslav Vasylchenko, director, Suspilne Broadcasting
- Anastasia Izvoshchikova, multimedia content expert, international news team at Suspilne Broadcasting
- Lilia Honcharuk, Suspilne Broadcasting
- Bohdana Neborak, The Ukrainians Media, editor
- Denys Karmanovych, DROGC
- Igor Koshka, Proleski, Sales
- Vladyslav Balinskyi, chief editor, "Zelenyi Lyst"
- Olesya Yaremchuk, independent journalist
- Dmytro Lykhoviy, "Novynarnia" founder
- Oleksiy Arunyan, journalist, "Graty"
- Alim Aliyev, journalist, deputy CEO of the Ukrainian Institute
- Karpova Yulya, Hit FM
- Tetyana Shcherbatiuk, chief editor, I-VIN.INFO
- Roman Melnyk, Hromadske
- Volodymyr Yermolenko, PEN Ukraine president, UkraineWorld.org chief editor
- Tetyana Oharkova, journalist, head of the Ukraine Crisis Media Center international department
- Tetyana Stolyarova, video editor (Suspilne News)
- Olena Osmolovska, "Jurydychna Hazeta" director
- Bohdan Ponomarenko, cinematographer
- Oksana Tykhonchuk, chief editor, InsheTV
- Lesya Shovkun, acting chief editor, "Novynarnia"
- Vadym Tyutyukin, CEO Odesa Online
- Vira Ilyina, deputy chief editor, "Technopolis"
- Dzvinka Pinchuk, photo correspondent, freelancer
- Natalia Sheremeta, assistant professor at the Ukrainian language department
- Bohdan Yanovych, independent journalist
- Tetyana Zhukova, International Advocacy Manager, Human Rights Centre ZMINA
- Myroslava Malyk, journalist, "Novynarnia"
- Lilia Yur, correspondent, I-VIN.INFO
- Christian Rocca, editor in chief Linkiesta, Italy
- Yaryna Grusha, publicist, Linkiesta, Pen Ukraine member
- Lesya Pyniak, freelancer journalist, Russian war crimes researcher
- Darya Nesterenko, chief of multimedia, Channel 24
- Maksym Belin, chief editor, "Zmist Tyzhnia"
- Natalia Rop, NV journalist
- Lyudmyla Chychkanyova, "Ukrainians in France"
- Svitlana Pustovit, creative director, I-VIN.INFO
- Vita Polyana, journalist, media studio "Faine Misto" (private enterprise "AVT Marketing")
- Oksana Brovko, director, Association of Independent Regional Publishers of Ukraine
- Vlada Liberova, Libkos
- Halyna Koynash, journalist, Kharkiv Human Rights Group
- Sofia Yevhan, manager
- Ulyana Boychuk, freelancer journalist, USA
- Lyudmyla Posnyk, "Ukrinform" editor
- Olesya Kotubey Herutska, journalist, Suspilne Culture
- Olha Virsta, chief of media literacy, Institute for Regional Press Development
- Romeo Kokriatski, NV senior editor
- Anton Buynytskyi, news producer, Persha Ukrainska Radiohrupa
- Paula Chertok Contributor, Euromaidan Press
- Valeria Ababina, journalist
- Anton Buynytskyi, news editor, Ukrainska Radiohrupa
- Vira Labych, journalist, Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPP)
- Victoria Sytniak, news editor, Focus Media
- Olena Artiushenko, retired journalist
- Volodymyr Arenev, author, screenwriter, professor, PEN Ukraine
- Oksana Necheporenko, Channel 5
- Volodymyr Mozhara, soldier
- Pavlo Kalashnyk, reporter, Forbes Ukraine
- Inna Vedernikova, domestic policy editor, ZN.UA
- Oleh Bazak, "Komitet" magazine
- Victoria Sydorenko, staff manager, Suspilne Broadcasting
- Maksym Turchynskyi, NTA TV journalist
- Hryhoriy Kuznetsov, news and documentaries producer
- Mykhailo Taran, director of operations, Heorhiy Gongadze Awards
- Anastasia Shybiko, Vilne Radio CEO
- Olha Ruda, correspondent, PBCU Mykolaiv
- Daria Yakovenko, journalist, news agency "Informator BIH"
- Olena Mudra, investigator journalist, NGO "Code 21"
- Bohdan Karkachov, chief editor, "Novyny Donbasu"
- Iryna Rozhok Kapranova, "Nakypilo Radio" journalist
- Lyudmyla Pryimachuk, freelancer journalist
- Tetyana Redko, freelancer journalist
- Diana Kozlova, digiral group expert, PBCU branch "UA Donbas"
- Olesya Boyko, journalist, "Chytomo"
- Artem Lahutenko, journalist
- Serhiy Burov, director of the Education House for Human Rights (Chernihiv)
- Naralka Markiv, journalist, "Vechirniy Kyiv"
- Gabriela Preda, journalist
- Danyshchuk Nadia, news feed editor, oboz.ua
- Sasha Dovzhyk, programme director of INDEX: Institute for Documentation and Exchange
- Luzia Tschirky, freelance/former correspondent
- Lyubomyra Remazhevska, freelancer
- Olena Lohinova, OCCRP editor in Ukraine
- Roman Kulchynskyi, chief editor, Texty.org.ua
- Volodymyr Lytvynov, journalist, Texty.org.ua
- Oleksandr Koval, private individual
- Ihor Isichenko, archbishop, Patriarch Mstyslav College, Kharkiv
- Serhiy Bobok, journalist
- Maria Korotayeva, chief editor, "Kharkiv Times”
- Máire Rowland, research coordinator, Coalition For Women In Journalism
- Natalia Humeniuk, journalist, director of the Public Interest Journalism Lab
- Inna Handzynska, editor, Texty.org.ua
- Maria Chynkina, founder of the project "Berlin Zusammen Mit Ї"
- Emmanuelle Chaze, ukraine correspondent, RFI, Ouest-France
- Yuliia Pieskova, CEO, Boosteamo OÜ
- Yevhen Zakharov, director, Kharkiv Human Rights Group
- Yevhen Vasyliev, field mission coordinator, ZMINA Center for Human Rights
- Yulia Yurchuk, Södertörn University professor, Sweden
- Olha Khudetska, media project manager, Watchers
- Ihor Kuzhyk, director, IRT Poltava
- Kateryna Kolonovhych, freelancer journalist, "Kunsht"
- Taras Marusyk, chief of translation at NSPU Kyiv, journalist, language policy expert, Ivan Ohienko Awards laureate
- Oleksiy Nikulin, hromadske videographer
- Oleksandr Chornovalov, Radio Liberty journalist
- Natalia Ozirska, the Golda Meir Institute for Civil Society Development
- Halyna Vdovychenko, writer
- Anastasia Dziubak, editor, "Hrechka"
- Tamila Deliurman, editor, "Hrechka"
- Oksana Khlebus, Suspilne Kherson correspondent
- Roman Sovyak, program presenter, PBCU
- Iryna Zaytseva, journalist, "Hrechka"
- Анастасія Галасюк, кореспондентка Суспільне Донбас
- Bohdan Nahaylo, chief editor, Kyiv Post
- Diana Deliurman, journalist, Frontliner
- Tetyana Herasymova, journalist, NGO "Zelenyi Lyst" (Odesa)
- Oksana Starenka, entrepreneur
- Anastasia Vlasova, photo journalist, freelancer
- Johana Kotisova, assistant professor in Journalism and Documentary, University of Amsterdam
- Romanenko Taras, editor-in-chief, Cinema Magazine
- Jacopo Iacoboni, journalist, Italy
- Lyudmyla Taran, PEN Ukraine member
- Borys Khersonskyi, rector of the Kyiv Institute for Modern Psychology and Psychotherapy (KIMPP)
- Oleh Boyko, Anticor portal
- Olha Danyliuk, acting chief editor, "Volynska Hazeta"
- Stanislav, TV cameraman
- Anastasia Bakulina, "Svidomi" CEO
- Arsen Tsymbaliuk, journalist, Channel 24
- Darya Bilan, journalist
- Iryna Uzlova, Channel 24 presenter
- Jens Bonewitz, private individual
- Yulia Khymeryk, investigator journalist, freelancer
- Svitlana Kramarenko, natural cosmetics seller, consultant
- Tsurkan Violetta, news feed editor, journalist, "Skhidnyi Variant"
- Aliide Naylor, freelance
- Yurko Prokhasko, PEN Ukraine
- Urbancik Johanna, journalist
- Danylo Mokryk, The Kyiv Independent
- Jonathan at Tochnyi.info, proofreader/editor at @Tochnyi & Tochnyi.info
- Yulia Makarenko, journalist, Telewizja Polska (Belsat)
- Amanda Bailly, journalist, freelance
- Taras Ilkiv, journalist, editor, UAF serviceman
- Tetyana Mazur, lawyer, human rights advocate
- Pavlo Zlenko, editor of the newspaper "Novyny Trostyanechchyny Tyzhden" (Sumy oblast)
- Yevhenia Naumenko, journalist, radio host at "Lvivska Khvylia"
- Dmytro Palchykov, chief of audio at The Ukrainians Media
- Zlata Novoselska, editor, broadcasting company "Lvivska Khvylia"
- Andriana Pynylo, radio journalist, "Lvivska Khvylia"
- Olena Kholodenko, freelancer journalist
- Iryna Novozhylova, president of the Zhytomyr Oblast Association of Professional Journalists and Advertisers
- Vita Shumlych, citizen of Ukraine
- Olena Savchenko, correspondent, news agency "Interfax-Ukraine"
- Lesya Pyniak, freelancer journalist
- Yulia Kishchuk, programme coordinator INDEX
- Rita Ruduša, journalist, Latvia
- Eva Yakubovska, board member Vitsche e.V.
- Iwa Kołodziejska, assistant professor, Institute of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, University of Warsaw
- Kateryna Botanova, Independent researcher
- Valeria Korablyova, Head of the Research Centre Ukraine in a Changing Europe, Prague
- Patrick Hansart, Particulier
- Emmanuelle Chaze, ukraine correspondent, RFI/Ouest-France
- Lilia Bondar, Mediaplatforma project founder
- Anselm Schmidt, grant consultant, University of Tartu
- Andriy Sukharkov, deputy chief editor, "Focus"
- Anna Lordan, visiting assistant professor, Oberlin College, USA
- Ihor Danylov, journalist
- Michael Alpert, fellow, United States National Heritage
- Maksym Eristavi, сo-founder, Free Press for Eastern Europe
- Vasyl Arovych, freelancer for the RFE/RL project "Ty Yak?" in Germany
- Douglas MacKenzie, Broadcasting Scotland
- Jonathan Lahey Dronsfield, writer, researcher, Philosopher-artist
- Tereza Hendl, philosopher and bioethicist, University of Augsburg and LMU of Munich
- Olga Bertelsen, associate professor oh Global Security and Intelligence, Tiffin University
- Tetyana Lokot, associate professor, Dublin City University / Vice-Chair, ECREA Ukraine Task Force
- Bohdan Vatsko, Suspilne correspondent
- Johana Kotisova, University of Amsterdam
- Babych Yulia, Channel 24 brand manager
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