EU Notes Lack Of Accountability For Attacks On Journalists In Ukraine
Umer Jamshaid Published December 13, 2019 | 08:37 PM
The European Union takes note of low accountability for attacks on and murders of journalists in Ukraine, according to the European Commission's 2019 association implementation report, published on Friday
In a press release on the report, the EU said that Ukraine was conducting "substantial and important reforms" in pursuant to the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. Reiterating support for the country, it still noted that further work was needed in a number of areas, with media freedoms being among them.
"Freedom of the media is broadly respected in Ukraine, although physical attacks including those with fatal consequences and acts of intimidation of journalists and media professionals still occur and there is a lack of accountability for these attacks," the report said.
The commission, in particular, mentioned that "investigations into the high-profile killing of the prominent journalist Pavlo Sheremet in 2016 have not brought results."
Ukraine notably reported the detention of several suspects in this murder case at a special briefing just a day before the EU report's publication.
According to the investigation, there are five suspects in the case: all of them have either fought against the breakaway republics of Donbas or acted as military medics during the conflict.
After the 2014 change of power and the start of the Donbas crisis, the state of press freedom in Ukraine has deteriorated. Kiev, in particular, cracked down on the work of Russian media in the country, including by restricting Russian journalists' entry to Ukraine. In March 2015, 115 Russian media outlets had their accreditation with state Ukrainian agencies suspended, prior to which the broadcasting of major Russian tv channels was prohibited in Ukraine.
The tally of attacks on journalists has also risen. Apart from reporter Sheremet, among those killed in recent years are Ukrainian journalist and writer Oles Buzina, Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency photojournalist Andrei Stenin, Rossiya TV channel's Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin, and Channel One cameraman Anatoly Klyan.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 19 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 19 April 2024
Rock-solid Ruud racks up season-leading win in Barcelona
At UN, Iran says it will make Israel 'regret' reprisals
G7 hears calls for 'critical' Ukraine aid
EU seeks to leverage might to confront China, US challenge
5 Customs officials martyred as their vehicle ambushed by terrorists in D I Khan
Pak-New Zealand match called off due to rain
NHA restores traffic on roads affected by recent rains in Balochistan
China to fully support Pakistan's efforts against terrorism: Ambassador Jiang
U.S. envoy calls on Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
Poland arrests man over suspected plan to kill Zelensky
More Stories From World
-
US veto sinks Palestinian UN membership bid in Security Council
19 minutes ago -
Duplantis to unleash 'inner' pole vault contest as Olympics beckon
39 minutes ago -
Australia tells citizens to depart Israel, Palestinian territories if 'safe to do so'
49 minutes ago -
Netflix beats expectations on profit and subscribers
59 minutes ago -
US vetoes Palestinian request for full UN membership
59 minutes ago -
Defending champion Swiatek motors into Stuttgart quarter-finals
1 hour ago
-
Netflix beats expectations on profit and subscribers
2 hours ago -
Ecuador hit by power cuts of up to 13 hours amid drought
2 hours ago -
Israel launches strike against Iran: US media
2 hours ago -
Kenya military chopper crash kills defence chief
2 hours ago -
Oil surges, equities sink as Iran blasts fan MidEast escalation fears
2 hours ago -
Israel launches strike against Iran: US media
2 hours ago