Russia: Ukrainian Journalist Victoria Roschyna Dies in Russian Custody, Kremlin Must Be Held Accountable
October 10, 2024 - Russia, Moscow
Women Press Freedom is devastated by the death of illegally detained Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roschyna during a transfer to a Moscow prison.
The journalist reportedly died on September 19 while being taken from the southwestern city of Taganrog to Moscow for a prisoner exchange.
Her death was confirmed by a representative of the Ukrainian government’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, but the cause of her death is unclear as of yet. The circumstances point to yet another outrageous consequence of Russia’s illegal detention and treatment of journalists.
On October 11, 2024, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office reclassified the criminal case into Roshchyna’s disappearance as a war crime combined with premeditated murder. The investigation will be conducted by the Main Investigation Department of the Security Service of Ukraine, under the supervision of the Prosecutor General's Office.
Roschyna had been illegally imprisoned by Russian forces since 2023 and unlawfully moved across borders, already a violation of international law and a war crime. We hold the Kremlin directly responsible for her death. A brave truth-teller, Victoria risked her life to expose the horrors of war. Despite being repeatedly detained by Russian occupying forces, she continued to report on the devastation.
She disappeared on assignment in August 2023 and was confirmed in Russian detention in May 2024.
Women Press Freedom stands with her family and colleagues who fought tirelessly for her release. We are outraged and heartbroken by this news. Russia must be held accountable. We demand justice for this unimaginable loss. Her courage will never be forgotten.
WPF condemns this crackdown on press freedom and peaceful protest. Journalists must be free to report without facing police violence. We demand the reporters are immediately freed.
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WPF stands in solidarity with Değer and demands an end to this judicial harassment. This baseless investigation must be dropped.
Pinar Gayip was briefly detained after being summoned to an Istanbul police station on October 14, 2024. She was taken into custody following yet another criminal complaints from lawyer Sezgin Keleş, who has persistently harassed Pınar due to her reporting on his conviction for "simple sexual assault."
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Women Press Freedom is devastated by news of Victoria's passing. She should never have been behind bars in the first place. We demand accountability from Russian authorities. Her family and loved ones deserve justice.
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Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy sentenced to 6 years for allegedly inciting mass unrest through her investigative work at Temirov Live. Her colleague Aika Beyshekeeva received 3 years probation.
WPF denounces this as an unacceptable obstruction of the public's right to know. Press must be free to report on matters of community interest without impediment.
WPF vehemently denounces prison sentence given to journalist for expressing an opinion online. We demand the conviction is overturned.
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Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the verbal attack and physical assault on Top News journalist Alketa Shaba during a live broadcast in Tirana by an opposition demonstrator while she covered opposition-led protests.
Women Press Freedom strongly denounces the orchestrated smear campaign and attack on Blerjana Bino, Director of the Centre for Science and Innovation for Development (SciDev), and Osservatorio Balkani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT) by the pro-government online tabloid "prapaskena".
Women Press Freedom is outraged by the shooting of Winnie Dortch, a Cleveland 19 News reporter, in a brutal domestic violence attack.
WPF demands accountability for those responsible and insists that no journalist should face violence for doing their job.
Women Press Freedom strongly denounces Russia's flagrant violations against journalists, as demonstrated by the latest unjust persecution of Catherine Norris Trent.
Women Press Freedom vehemently condemns the appalling assault on KVLY-TV reporter Tatum Miller, who was physically attacked and subjected to verbal aggression while preparing for an interview in downtown Fargo, North Dakota.
Women Press Freedom calls for urgent legislative action to curb the malicious use of AI and protect journalists from exploitation.
WPF welcome dropping of baseless charges levelled at the journalist for her coverage of a pro-Palestinian sit-in in April.
Women Press Freedom welcomes the release of Palestinian journalist Asmaa Harish from Israeli detention at Damon Prison.
WPF vehemently condemns Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahçeli's threats against Halk TV and 4 journalists, including Şule Aydın.
Syrian State TV news anchor Safaa Ahmed was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Damascus. Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the deliberate targeting and killing of Ahmed and other media professionals by Israel.
Ambreen has been enduring relentless online abuse for her journalistic work, but the harassment escalated recently when a YouTube channel misidentified her in a photo with an athlete, falsely labeling her as his wife.
We stand with Forotan and all Afghan women journalists enduring these attacks while grappling with the trauma of gender apartheid imposed by the Taliban.
