Russia: Ukrainian Journalist Victoria Roschyna Dies in Russian Custody, Kremlin Must Be Held Accountable
WPF is devastated and demands to know what happened to the 27 year old. Her body must be returned immediately for a proper farewell and accountability for this war crime.
Location: Russia
Date: October 10, 2024Updated: October 20, 2024
Women Press Freedom is deeply saddened by the death of Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roschyna, who died under unclear circumstances while being transferred to a Moscow prison. The cause of her death remains uncertain, but one fact is clear: the Kremlin bears responsibility. The abduction and illegal detention of journalists by occupying Russian forces in Ukraine constitute a gross violation of international law, and transferring them into Russia only compounds this abuse. Russia's refusal to hand over Victoria’s remains to Ukrainian authorities raises suspicions that she was killed or subjected to torture and that Russia is now attempting to hide evidence. The mistreatment of detained journalists is well-documented. Crimean journalist Iryna Danylovych has repeatedly been denied medical care in Russian custody, leading to significant health issues, including hearing loss. Her condition continues to deteriorate without adequate treatment. Women Press Freedom calls for immediate action from international agencies, especially the Red Cross, to intervene. Four women journalists who were abducted in Ukraine remain illegally detained in Russia. Although it is too late for Victoria, these women urgently need access to medical assessments and protection from mistreatment. We welcome the Ukrainian authorities' investigation into Victoria’s death as a possible war crime and urge the International Criminal Court to take similar action. We demand that Russia immediately hand over Victoria’s remains to Ukrainian authorities. It is crucial to uncover the truth about what happened so that the perpetrators can be prosecuted.
Victoria Roschyna 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.
The body of Roshchyna was not returned to Ukraine during a prisoner exchange on October 18, raising suspicions from Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters that Russia may be delaying the repatriation to conceal evidence of a possible crime. Petro Yatsenko, a representative of the Coordination Headquarters, stated that they are actively seeking answers regarding her death, although it remains uncertain whether it was due to torture or other causes.
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.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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