STRASBOURG – On Wednesday, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) unanimously passed a resolution urging immediate measures to secure the release of all journalists detained in violation of international law, including 26 Ukrainian journalists currently held in Russian detention centers.
The abduction and mistreatment of journalists began with Russia’s occupation of Crimea in 2014, with some journalists remaining in captivity for nearly a decade. This ongoing situation is part of a broader campaign against media freedom amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Parliamentary Assembly resolution reports, “Since the onset of the full-scale war of aggression in February 2022, over 800 crimes against media and personnel have been recorded as carried out by the Russian Federation. Since 24 February 2022, the Russian Federation has been responsible for the deaths of 108 media professionals: 12 died while reporting, and 96 died as combatants or from Russian shelling or torture. Despite their ‘PRESS’ identification, journalists are sometimes deliberately targeted by military fire. Investigative journalists face increased attacks, both physical and online.”
A War Against Truth
“This war also targets truth, treating free media and journalists as adversaries,” states the report by parliamentarian Ms. Yevheniia Kravchuk, representing Ukraine at PACE. The report details arbitrary detentions, torture, and enforced disappearances of journalists, many charged with fabricated offenses like espionage and extremism.
The case of Victoria Roshchyna exemplifies the risks faced by journalists covering the conflict. The 27-year-old Ukrainian journalist died in September 2024 after over a year in Russian custody. Her body, returned to Ukraine in February 2025, showed evidence of torture, including broken ribs, electrocution marks, and missing organs.
Addressing the Assembly, Ms. Yevheniia Kravchuk stated, “She was brought to Ukraine in a plastic bag, missing vital organs, brain, trachea, and eyeballs. We assumed these were attempts to conceal the cause of death.”
The Assembly’s new resolution establishes an annual “Victory for Victoria” commemoration for journalists killed in conflict zones.
Legal Obligations Ignored
The resolution stresses that under international humanitarian law, journalists in conflict are considered civilians protected by the Geneva Conventions. The European Court of Human Rights has held Russia accountable for “administrative practices” in occupied Ukraine violating the European Convention on Human Rights, including unlawful journalist detention and mistreatment.
The Court’s decisions in June 2024 and July 2025 commanded Russia to “release or safely return all individuals deprived of liberty on occupied Ukrainian territory” in violation of the Convention.
These decisions noted illegal suppression of non-Russian media, wrongful detention, and killing of journalists, and other serious violations of the freedom to communicate information.
The Committee of Ministers, overseeing Court judgment implementation, reiterated these orders in March 2025.
Calls for Action
The resolution proposes specific measures for Council of Europe members, strengthening sanctions against those detaining journalists, supporting Ukraine’s media infrastructure, and aiding journalists’ families. It also calls for a Special Tribunal for aggression crimes against Ukraine and full compliance with the Court’s judgments.
The Council of Europe’s 2023 campaign “Journalists Matter” emphasizes the situation of Ukrainian journalists. Ukraine pioneered a national action plan for journalist safety, highlighting the need for persistent international pressure amid conflict.
Broader Context
The Institute of Mass Information (IMI), a Ukrainian NGO monitoring free speech for over 20 years, recorded 108 media professional deaths since 24 February 2022, alongside 333 media outlets halting operations due to the Russian invasion. Thousands of professionals fled or changed jobs, and IMI noted threats to journalists and editors.
Focusing on Ukraine, the Assembly acknowledged this as part of a global press freedom crisis. Amnesty International reported 2024 as the deadliest year for journalists globally, with 124 fatalities.
The Council of Europe Platform reported 40 alerts for Ukraine in 2024, the highest for any country, with most violations in Russian-occupied areas or by Russian forces.
The Platform’s annual review offers critical insights on press freedom trends and issues in Europe, providing guidance on national and European responses. Their 2024 report indicates unprecedented threats to journalists undermining journalism and the public’s right to information.
In this context, the Assembly recommended member States support national human rights institutions, including Ombudsman offices, in monitoring and advocating for journalists’ rights and protection during conflict, with technical, financial, and capacity-building support.
The Council of Europe, established in 1949, includes 46 member states focusing on human rights, democracy, and rule of law. Russia’s membership was terminated in March 2022 after invading Ukraine.
Leave a Reply