Ukrainian journalist Georgiy Gongadze murdered in 2000, has become a symbol of the fight against impunity.Photo: IMS

A new report by IMS and Article 19 documents the disappearances and killings of journalists in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine in the last decade and the inadequate response of their governments

The report "No Justice for Journalists in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia" will be presented at an OSCE meeting on the safety of journalists taking place in Vilnius from 7 - 8 June. 

The report documents impunity for violence and disappearances of journalists from Belarus, Russia and Ukraine over the last decade. Examinations of a number of cases of journalists who have disappeared and/or been killed in connection with their work have shown that the lack of effective investigations leads to a climate of impunity with a detrimental effect on freedom of expression. Read the report here.

- None of the masterminds behind the murders or disappearances of the journalists included in our report have been brought to justice. It is first and foremost political will that is missing to address the impunity for these violations, says Dr Agnes Callamard, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19.

- It is crucial that the OSCE prioritises the protection of journalists and increases pressure on three countries to comply with their international human rights obligations in this area."

Jane Møller Larsen, Head of IMS's Media and Democracy Unit adds:

- IMS insists that threats, attacks and assassinations of journalists be investigated and punished. Not solemnly to give justice to the respective journalist and their families but also to secure that media can work professionally in a given context  - to secure pluralism and diversity of the media and avoid self-censorship - and to make sure that media can play its very important role in society as a watch-dog. Professional media landscapes are crucial in well-functioning societies.

The report urges the governments of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia to publically recognise journalists' vulnerability to violence due to their work, condemn attacks, deaths and disappearances without prejudice, and refrain from any negative propaganda about the journalist in question. It also recommends that acceptable protection mechanisms for journalists under threat are put in place and that independent investigations in cases of violence against journalists are conducted promptly and effectively to bring to justice both the perpetrators and the instigators.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For more information, please contact Helle Wahlberg, International Media Support, tel. +45 88327005 or hwa[snabela]i-m-s.dk. For media interviews in Ukraine, please contact Mona Samari, Senior Press Officer, ARTICLE 19, mona[snabela]article19.org or call + 44 (0) 7515 828 939 or Antonina Cherevko, IMS Programme Officer for Ukraine, at ac[snabela]i-m-s.dk or at +380 50 410 27 68.

• International Media Support (IMS) is a non-profit organisation working to support local media in countries affected by armed conflict, human insecurity and political transition. In more than 50 countries worldwide, IMS helps to strengthen professional journalism and ensure that media can operate in challenging circumstances.
• ARTICLE 19 is an independent human rights organisation that works around the world to protect and promote the right to freedom of expression. It takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees free speech. Read more on www.article19.org