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A woman holds a placard demanding freedom for Iryna Danylovych, a human rights defender, medical professional, and civic journalist who was sentenced by Russian authorities in Russia-occupied Crimea in December 2022 to seven years in prison on fabricated charges of âunlawful handling of explosives", as demonstrators gather in Volodymyrska Street near Taras Shevchenko Park for the March of Women on International Womenâs Day, Kyiv, Ukraine, March 8, 2026. Held for the first time since Russiaâs full-scale invasion, the procession was dedicated to combating gender discrimination and protecting womenâs rights. Activists highlighted the rights of female military personnel, the need to address sexual harassment and discrimination in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and support for women held in Russian captivity since 2014. Many participants also voiced opposition to the draft of the new Civil Code., Credit:Yuliia Ovsiannikova / Avalon
May 05, 2026 – Russia/Ukraine –
The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), together with partner organisations, has issued a statement condemning what it describes as the systematic persecution of journalists in Russia-occupied territories of Ukraine, warning that press freedom in these regions has been almost entirely dismantled through a coordinated regime of repression.
The statement highlights that since the occupation of Crimea in 2014 and the expansion of Russian control following the 2022 full-scale invasion, independent journalism has been severely suppressed. Media outlets have been shut down or expelled, access to Ukrainian and independent information sources has been blocked, and journalists have been subjected to surveillance, intimidation, and criminal prosecution on broad security-related charges.
ECPMF notes that journalists in these territories are facing multiple forms of abuse, including unlawful detention, abductions, searches, seizure of equipment, physical violence, and, in some cases, torture and killings. The statement emphasizes that these actions are not isolated incidents but part of a structured system designed to eliminate independent reporting and replace it with state-controlled narratives.
According to the document, Russian occupying authorities frequently use legislation on extremism, terrorism, espionage, “discrediting the army,” and dissemination of so-called false information to prosecute journalists and citizen reporters. These legal tools, the organisations argue, are being applied broadly to suppress dissent and silence coverage of occupation policies and military actions.
The statement also draws attention to the scale of detentions, noting that numerous Ukrainian journalists remain unlawfully imprisoned, including both professional reporters and citizen journalists. Many have been held since the early years of the occupation, with others arrested more recently in newly occupied regions.
ECPMF and co-signatories stress that these practices constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, particularly the protections afforded to civilians and journalists in conflict zones. They argue that the targeting of media workers is also part of a broader strategy to control information flows and restrict access to independent reporting from occupied territories.
The statement calls for urgent international intervention, including diplomatic pressure to secure the release of detained journalists, independent monitoring of detention conditions, and accountability measures against those responsible for violations. It also urges stronger sanctions and expanded support for displaced and exiled media workers.
Overall, the ECPMF frames the situation as a sustained assault on press freedom, warning that without coordinated international action, the systematic silencing of journalists in occupied Ukraine will continue unchecked.
Reference –
Statement on the persecution of journalists in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine
