Pathetic: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized World Press Photo for a photo of a Ukrainian child and a Russian soldier
Kyiv • UNN
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine criticized World Press Photo for combining a photo of a Ukrainian child, traumatized by the war, and a Russian soldier. This is an example of false moral equivalence.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reacted to the "tandem" of two photographs by the international organization World Press Photo, which depict an injured Ukrainian child and a soldier of the Russian army. This was reported by UNN with reference to the post by the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhiy Tikhyi.
Details
World Press Photo's decision to create a "tandem" of two photographs, depicting a Ukrainian child traumatized by war and a soldier of the Russian occupation army, is deplorable. This is the worst example of false moral equivalence between the aggressor and those defending themselves against aggression.
The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine emphasized that "the Ukrainian child had no choice - her country was unjustly attacked. To equate her suffering with that of the invaders who chose to wage an aggressive war is immoral.
In particular, as Tikhyi noted, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs joins the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers and condemns the actions of World Press Photo, which contradict the basic principles of professional journalism.
We call on all professionals and associations who understand the absurdity of equating victims and criminals to express their position.
Addition
On March 27, as reported by the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers, the international organization World Press Photo announced 42 regional winners of its annual documentary photography contest.
Among the winners were also representatives of Russia and Belarus, as well as two German photographers whose work concerns the topic of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
One of the acclaimed images was a portrait of a Ukrainian child who suffered severe injuries as a result of the war.
Another awarded photo shows a wounded occupier from the "DPR" in a field hospital near Bakhmut.
Such a choice by the jury drew criticism, in particular, from last year's World Press Photo winner, Ukrainian photographer Yulia Kochetova.
Obviously, I am surprised to see so much attention to the narrative of the "Russian soul" among this year's regional winners. I cannot imagine how Georgian photographers feel that their protests against Russian influence were shown through images by a photographer from a Russian state agency. It is a personal responsibility - how this war will be told years from now. It is important to continue to bear witness and document.