UN experts urge Russia to confirm news of Ukrainian journalist’s death in custody

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - A group of UN human rights experts on Wednesday sought confirmation of reports of the death of Victoria Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist, who has been “forcibly disappeared” since August 2023 while reporting in Russian-occupied Eastern Ukraine.

"The distressing news adds to tremendous suffering caused to the family by Victoria Roshchyna’s enforced disappearance and prolonged uncertainty about her fate and whereabouts for over one year and amounts to torture and ill-treatment under international human rights law," the experts said in a statement.

Roshchyna is the 2022 recipient of the International Women’s Media Foundation’s "Courage in Journalism Award" and is renowned for her independent journalistic coverage of the war against Ukraine.

According to information provided by the experts, Roshchyna was arbitrarily detained without legal process or formal charges in Melitopol, located in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, before being taken to a detention facility in the Russian city of Taganrog.

“The last unofficial information regarding her location dates back to Sept. 8, when she was reportedly moved to an undisclosed location,” the statement said, adding since then, her whereabouts and condition have remained unknown.

The statement said that Roshchyna's father received a letter from Russia's Defense Ministry on Oct. 10, claiming that the journalist had died in Russian custody on Sept. 19 but provided no details about the cause or circumstances of her death, nor any supporting documentation.

"Given that Victoria’s detention or alleged death have not been officially confirmed through provision of evidence, we urge the Russian government to immediately confirm her fate and whereabouts," the experts said.

"Should her death be confirmed, we call for the immediate return of her body home so that an independent investigation into the cause and circumstances of her death could be undertaken, including an independent autopsy," they said.

"If confirmed, Russian authorities would bear responsibility for the arbitrary deprivation of life in State custody. We call for accountability and justice for Victoria Roshchyna," the experts added.

According to the experts, it is believed that Roshchyna was “held in incommunicado detention in Taganrog – a detention centre infamous for using torture against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners, with returned detainees speaking of torture by electric shock, brutal beatings, rape, sexual violence, and denial of necessary medical treatment.”

At least 1,672 Ukrainian civilians, including at least 25 Ukrainian journalists, are being held in detention in the Russian Federation.

"We urge the Russian government to reveal their fate and whereabouts and immediately release all Ukrainians arbitrarily detained, deported and held in the Russian Federation," the experts said.