US reacts to death of Ukrainian journalist in Russian captivity

Viktoriia Roshchyna. Сollage: Ukrainska Pravda

The US Embassy to Ukraine has described the death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna in Russian Federation custody as a reminder of how Russia punishes journalists in opposition to the Kremlin regime.

Source: the US Embassy on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda

Details: The embassy said they were “deeply troubled” by the news of Viktoriia Roshchyna’s death in prison in Russia.

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Deeply troubled by the death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchina while in Russian custody. Her tragic death highlights Russia’s ongoing kidnapping & imprisonment of journalists, a blatant attack on free media & truth. Russia will be held to account.

— U.S. Embassy Kyiv (@USEmbassyKyiv) October 11, 2024

Quote: “Her tragic death highlights Russia’s ongoing kidnapping & imprisonment of journalists, a blatant attack on free media & truth. Russia will be held to account,” the embassy wrote.

Read Viktoriia Roshchyna’s articles on Ukrainska Pravda

Background:

• The EU expressed outrage at the death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna and demanded an extensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
• Roshchyna disappeared on 3 August 2023 in the Russian-occupied territory from where she was reporting.
• In May 2024, Russia admitted for the first time that it had detained Roshchyna. The Russian Ministry of Defence sent a letter of confirmation to her father, Volodymyr Roshchyn.
• On 10 October 2024, Petro Yatsenko, the head of the press service of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, said during the 24/7 national joint newscast that Viktoriia Roshchyna had died in Russian custody. 
• Later, Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, said that he had received confirmation of Roshchyna’s death from the Russian side.

This news has been updated since publication.

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