The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine issued a statement for World Press Freedom Day on May 3, demanding the release of Ukrainian journalists from Russian captivity. This was reported by the editorial office of UNN with reference to the MFA press service.
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The ministry noted that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russians have killed at least 149 media workers, including both Ukrainian and foreign journalists. At least 21 journalists died directly while performing their professional duties.
At the same time, Russia has established a regime of total censorship and repression in the occupied territories of Ukraine, the MFA noted.
"This is Russia's deliberate terror against those who bring the truth to the world. There must be accountability in national and international jurisdictions for every attack on journalists. Under no circumstances should the media become targets,"
The MFA also drew attention to the catastrophic state of journalism within Russia itself and called on the international community to do everything possible for the immediate and unconditional release of Ukrainian journalists from Russian captivity, as well as to increase consolidated pressure on the Kremlin regime to stop the persecution of journalists and the destruction of all civil liberties.
According to official data from the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, as of today, about 30 Ukrainian media workers are in Russian captivity or illegal detention. "The struggle for the rights of journalists and freedom of speech is a common cause for the entire international community. This is not just the task of a single country; it is the protection of global immunity against tyranny,"
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