OSCE Media Freedom Representative reiterates grave worries regarding safety of journalists in Ukraine

VIENNA, 6 April 2022 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro today reiterated her grave worries regarding the safety of journalists during the Russian ongoing military attack in Ukraine, as the death toll, injuries and harassment of media workers grows.

Following reports about the death of well-known Ukrainian photojournalist Maksim Levin and Lithuanian film director Mantas Kvedaravičius, the Representative expressed her deepest sympathies and condolences to their families, friends and colleagues.

On 2 April, the Ukrainian prosecutor’s office confirmed the death of Levin, who was reportedly killed by Russian military in the Kyiv region. The journalist had been reported missing since 13 March.

Information about the death of Mantas Kvedaravičius became public on 2 April. He worked in Mariupol, where, according to his colleagues and media reports, he had documented this besieged city.

Ribeiro further noted reports that at least three media workers were injured while performing their journalistic duties:

• On 25 March, in the Chernihiv region, journalist Andriy Tsaplienko from the Ukrainian television channel 1+1 received a shrapnel wound;
• On 26 March, in the Kyiv region, camera operator Oleksandr Navrotskyi from the Ukrainian television channel 24-Kanal sustained a serious shrapnel injury;
• On 29 March, in Mariupol, journalist Rodion Severyanov from the Russian media platform Izvestia received a gunshot wound.

Various reports also indicate the continued disappearance and abduction of Ukrainian journalists or their relatives by the Russian military:

• On 28 March, journalist Iryna Dubchenko from the city of Zaporizhzhia, who contributed to several Ukrainian media outlets, was abducted and taken to Donetsk;
• On 28 March, reports indicated that journalist for the Ukrainian press agency UNIAN, Dmitro Khiliuk, has been missing since the beginning of March and is believed to have been abducted in the Kyiv region;
• On 30 March, in the city of Kherson, Russian military searched for journalist and editor-in-chief of Kherson Newscity website Konstantin Ryzhenko, and abducted his brother;
• On 3 April, Russian military searched the apartment of Oleksandr Gunko, the editor-in-chief of a local news platform Novakahovka.City in the town of Nova Kakhovka in the Kherson region, abducted him and confiscated his phone and other devices.

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 www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.