OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović condemned the harassment of journalists covering the conflict in Ukraine

The parties of the conflict in Ukraine are called to stop the intimidation of journalists. A declaration in this regard was made by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović.

“Journalists covering the Ukraine crisis are convenient targets of the conflicting sides. I reiterate my call to all sides to stop intimidating and threatening members of the media and to let them do their jobs,” Mijatović said.

The OSCE official mentioned some of the latest cases when journalists were hindered from doing their job, when they were detained, had their equipment seized and even mistreated: two journalists of a Crimean television were detained and beaten in Simferopol by a group of persons in military uniform; two journalists of the Russian portal LifeNews were detained by armed persons and handed over to law enforcement authorities; a journalist with the Polish publication Gazeta Wyborcza was detained by representatives of the Federal Security Service; several Russian journalists were denied entry to Ukraine despite being accredited to cover the presidential election on Sunday; etc.

“Journalists must be free to do their job without fear for their safety. In times of conflict the plurality of voices and opinions are needed more than ever in order for the citizens to be informed,” Mijatović said.

“The media freedom situation in Ukraine reflects the overall security situation, which will not improve if there is no action. All political leaders engaged in resolving the crisis in Ukraine need to clearly understand that violations of media freedom are unacceptable,” the OSCE Representative underlined.

Source of text and photo: http://www.osce.org/