Russians confirm death of journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna in captivity

Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) Commissioner for Human Rights, has confirmed that the Russian authorities have acknowledged the death of Viktoriia Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist and freelance contributor to Ukrainska Pravda. Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said she had been due to be released and returned to Ukraine soon.

Source: Lubinets on Telegram

Quote: "I have official documentary confirmation from the Russian side of the death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, who was unlawfully deprived of freedom by Russia. My deepest condolences go out to Viktoriia’s family and friends."

Details: Lubinets recalled that Roshchyna went missing in August 2023 in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. In September of that year, her family reported her as missing to the relevant authorities. The Human Rights Commissioner’s Office also received a request from her family. It was not until May 2024 that Russia admitted that Roshchyna had been detained and was being held in custody in Russia. This was confirmed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

"Once again, a person whose detention in Russian captivity had been confirmed by the ICRC has died. Why this young woman died while in Russian captivity remains unknown," Lubinets added.

He said he had informed the UN and ICRC so they can document Roshchyna’s death, emphasising that she had been unlawfully detained by Russia.

Quote: "Unlawful detentions and abductions of journalists are a Russian weapon against freedom of speech! Russia has once again violated the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law. The international community must put pressure on Russia to ensure that all those guilty of these crimes are held accountable." 

Update: The Graty media outlet has reported that Russia's Ministry of Defence has disclosed the date of Roshchyna's death. An email dated 2 October included the information that she died on 19 September 2024. It also stated that her body would be handed back to the "Ukrainian side as part of an exchange of bodies of detainees". The circumstances and causes of her death were not disclosed.

Background:

• The news of Roshchyna’s death in Russian captivity had emerged earlier. Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence reported that the journalist had been due to be released and return to Ukraine soon. 
• Roshchyna was captured by the Russians in March 2022 and held in the occupied city of Berdiansk for ten days.
• In 2022, she wrote a series of reports from temporarily occupied territories for Ukrainska Pravda. Her work included stories about life in occupied Crimea during the war, the sham referendum in occupied Donetsk Oblast, and a photo report from the devastated city of Mariupol.
• On 25 July, Roshchyna left Ukraine for Poland, planning to make the three-day journey via Russia to the occupied part of Ukraine's east.
• Roshchyna disappeared on 3 August 2023 in Russian-occupied territory, where she was reporting from. 
• It was not until May 2024 that Russia admitted to having detained Roshchyna. Russia's Defence Ministry sent a letter confirming this to her father, Volodymyr Roshchyn.

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