OSCE Representative Désir strongly condemns jailing of Donetsk journalist Aseev, reiterates call for immediate release of all journalists in region

VIENNA, 22 October 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today strongly condemned the imprisonment of Ukrainian journalist, writer and blogger Stanislav Aseev, who goes by the pen name Vasin.

According to reports of the so-called “General Prosecutor’s Office of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR)”, in August Aseev received a 15-year prison sentence on charges of extremism, espionage and public calls for an encroachment on the “DPR’s” territorial integrity.

“I strongly denounce the imprisonment of Stanislav Aseev and I am shocked by his completely illegal conviction and sentencing to 15 years in jail. I reiterate that he must be released immediately,” Désir said.

Aseev has been a contributor to various media, including the Ukrainian Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). He has been held in detention by the armed formations in the non-government-controlled area of the Donetsk region on spurious charges of espionage for Ukraine since June 2017.

The Representative further called for the release of another blogger and contributor to the Ukrainian Service of RFE/RL, Oleh Halaziuk, who has also been detained by the armed formations in the non-government-controlled area of the Donetsk region since August 2017.

“Aseev and Halaziuk were among the very few independent journalists who worked and reported from the non-government controlled area of Donetsk region. The silencing of independent journalists is a crime against the freedom of expression and it is unacceptable,” Désir said. “I again call on all OSCE participating States to increase pressure on any relevant actors to release both Aseev and Halaziuk.”

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He 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 www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.