UK and Media Bodies Denounce Russian Arrest Warrant for The Sun’s Jerome Starkey
January 30, 2025
Afghan Journalist Zia Danesh Details Taliban Threats and Flight to the U.S.
January 30, 2025
January 30, 2025 – Ukraine –
Three journalists—Ukrainian freelance reporter Petro Chumakov, Swiss CH Media correspondent Kurt Pelda, and freelance camera operator Josef Zehnder—were detained by Ukrainian military personnel near Sudzha, a Russian border town under Ukrainian control. The journalists were traveling in a military vehicle with a Ukrainian soldier who had official permission for their transport.
They were held for eight hours on suspicion of illegal border crossing, even though they carried valid war-zone accreditation. After detention, the Sumy district court dismissed the legal proceedings on January 15, finding their rights had been “grossly” violated. Despite the court’s decision, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense suspended Chumakov’s accreditation on January 9 “pending clarification of the circumstances of my possible unauthorized work,” Chumakov told CPJ.
As of January 30, Chumakov reported not receiving any update on his accreditation status. Pelda fears that both his and Zehnder’s credentials, due to expire on April 15 and July 8, respectively, may not be renewed.
CPJ Europe and Central Asia program coordinator Gulnoza Said emphasized: “Journalists accredited to cover the war in Ukraine and complying with the rules for reporting in war zones should be able to do their work without obstruction,” urging the Ukrainian authorities to reinstate Chumakov’s credentials and commit to renewing all three journalists’ accreditations.
Pelda expressed concern over the current system, stating that some in the Ukrainian military leadership seek to “ban independent reporters from the combat zones altogether.” He noted that zoning rules, which determine reporters’ access to frontline areas, are unclear, giving discretion to local commanders and press officers.
This incident highlights the paradox faced by journalists in war: even while legally accredited, they are vulnerable to arbitrary detention and bureaucratic setbacks. CPJ warns that the accreditation freeze threatens not just these individuals but poses a broader risk to independent and transparent journalism on the frontlines of the conflict.
Reference –
