OSCE Representative mourns death of Italian journalist and his assistant in Ukraine

VIENNA, 25 MAY 2014 - OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today said she was deeply saddened about the death of Italian photojournalist Andrea Rocchelli and his assistant Andrey Mironov in eastern Ukraine. Mijatović expressed her sincere condolences to Rocchelli’s and Mironov’s families and colleagues.

“These deaths are horrid reminders that not enough is being done to protect journalists who risk their lives reporting from conflict zones in Ukraine,” Mijatović said. “I have raised my concern about the appalling situation regarding journalists’ safety in the country on numerous occasions, but it has continued to deteriorate," Mijatović said.

Rocchelli and Mironov were killed by mortar fire on 24 May near Slavyansk where they were covering the conflict ahead of the early presidential election. French photographer William Roguelon of Wostok Press was injured during the attack. Also on 24 May Yuri Visotsky, Sergey Marchik, Alexander Borozenko, journalists with Belarusian BelSat TV, came under mortar fire, but no injuries were reported.

”I call on the authorities to swiftly and thoroughly investigate the circumstances of this deadly attack and to hold those responsible accountable”, Mijatović said.

On Friday the Representative released a comprehensive report on the media freedom situation in Ukraine, this report is available at //www.osce.org/fom/119009.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on facebook.com/osce.rfom.