The Committee for the Protection of Journalists reminded that Ukraine already has a history of impunity for crimes against journalists.
The editor-in-chief of “Ukrainian Pravda” Sevgil Musaeva and the publication's correspondent Sonya Lukashova received phone calls and threatening messages after the publication published an investigation about the dismissal of ombudsman Lyudmila Denisova The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) calls on the Ukrainian authorities to quickly and thoroughly investigate these threats.
“Ukrainian authorities should take all possible steps to ensure the safety and well-being of journalists Sevgil Musaeva and Sonya Lukashova. Their work is a service to the Ukrainian public, and they should not face threats because of their reports,” said the coordinator of CPJ's Europe and Central Asia programs. Gulnoza Said.
“The authorities should conduct a quick and effective investigation of threats against female journalists and bring the perpetrators to justice. Ukraine already has a difficult history impunity in crimes against journalists,” she emphasized.
Investigation “Ukrainian Pravda” of June 27, written by Lukashova, covered the case of ombudsman Lyudmila Denisova, who was fired for allegedly exaggerating reports of war crimes in the territories under Russian occupation.
According to Musaeva, after the publication of the investigation, she and Lukashova began to receive threats by phone and through social networks. One of the messages that Musaeva received read: “Sevgil, I have a feeling that your throat will be cut. I don't know who and when – but run.”
She told CPJ that most of the threats came from anonymous sources, but added that some accounts had usernames.
“My job is to tell the truth, whatever it is, I don't take sides,” she said.
< span style="font-weight: 400;">The names of Musaeva and Lukashova ended up in the database of “Peacemaker”, which published their personal information and accused them of using “so-called journalistic activities” to support Russia. Lukashova's page was updated or created on June 27, and Musaeva's on June 30.
Read also: The Rada appointed a new ombudsman to replace Denisova
span>
In 2016, “Mirotvorets” published the names, surnames, addresses and contact details of more than five thousand Ukrainian and foreign reporters and media workers, who applied for accreditation to work in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and called them “helpers of terrorists”, reported media.
Since CPJ began reporting in 1992, Ukraine has had at least 25 journalists have been killed in connection with their work, with eight journalists killed for their work, including two editors-in-chief of Ukrainian Pravda, CPJ research shows.
