The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has urged increased sanctions pressure on Russia over crimes against Ukrainian journalists. Deputy Chair of the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy and member of Ukraine’s Permanent Delegation to PACE, Yevheniia Kravchuk, has reported that the organization has documented this call in a new resolution.
According to a declaration approved at the latest PACE session, sanctions on those who committed crimes against media employees should target commanders of Russian operational groups, chiefs of staff, unit commanders, fleet commanders, heads and staff of detention facilities, leaders of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service, and officials controlling media and propaganda in occupied territories.
PACE has also called for investigation and punishment for incitement to genocide, including hate speech, disinformation, and propaganda.
“Journalists matter” resolution
The "Journalists matter: the need to step up efforts to liberate Ukrainian journalists held in captivity by the Russian Federation" resolution demands:
- Immediate release of all Ukrainian journalists held in Russian prisons and in occupied territories;
- Provision of information on the location and health of detainees and access for the ICRC;
- An end to years-long torture, killings, and persecution of journalists — first in Crimea, and since 2022 in other occupied regions.
Citizen journalists and “Victory for Victoria”
For the first time, the resolution uses the term “citizen journalists”. These are mainly Crimean Tatar activists and relatives of political prisoners who risk their lives daily to cover events under occupation, often anonymously.
The document also establishes an annual memorial ceremony, “Victory for Victoria”, during PACE’s autumn session, honoring journalists and war correspondents who risk their lives performing professional duties. The name honors Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchina, who was captured by Russian forces, tortured, and killed in captivity.
