The Verkhovna Rada’s temporary commission (TC) for inestigating Russia’s crimes against journalists works to ensure that the collected evidence leads to real prison sentences and international sanctions against the perpetrators, said Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, chair of the parliamentary Freedom of Speech Committee and deputy chair of the TC, in a comment to the Institute of Mass Information journalist Valentyna Troyan.

According to Yurchyshyn, the commission should not just of track the details of the aggression, but also provide grounds for real prison terms and international sanctions for the perpetrators.

Yaroslav Yurchyshyn. Photo via the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech on Facebook

Yurchyshyn listed the following as the TC’s key priorities:

  • Coordinating efforts: Yurchyshyn expects “closer cooperation between law enforcement, the executive branch, and the media in tracking and investigating Russia’s crimes.”
  • Inevitability of penalties: the cooperation should above all result in strengthening the prosecution’s position against Russian war criminals in national and international courts alike.
  • Pressure through sanctions: there will be a special focus on introducing targeted sanctions against individuals involved in the persecution of media workers and taking civilians as hostages.

Yurchyshyn specifically mentioned the issue of safety and the release of detained journalists.

“We seek to create an international coalition and boost cooperation within the country to release the 26 civilian journalists who are currently held hostage by Putin, as well as all other civilians imprisoned by the Russian Federation,” Yurchyshyn stressed.

Furthermore, the TC plans to initiate global change. This involves working with national parliaments and international structures to reform humanitarian law. The goal is to strengthen the real protection of journalists and civilians in conflict zones.

Previously

The Verkhovna Rada created a temporary commission to investigate crimes against journalists and other employees of media entities committed by Russian armed formations. The decision was adopted on 4 December 2025. Yevhenia Kravchuk (“Servant of the People”) was elected as the commission’s chair and MP Yaroslav Yurchyshyn (“Holos”) was elected as the deputy chair.

The composition of the commission’s expert board was approved on 15 January 2026.