site.btaRussia Must Release Captured Ukrainian Journalists Immediately - CC-DB Co-Floor Leader Iordanova

Addressing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg, Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria co-Floor Leader Nadejda Iordanova said that Russia must release the captured Ukrainian journalists immediately, the Yes, Bulgaria! party reported on Wednesday.

“We cannot simply abandon Ukrainian journalists held captive in Russia. We must back their courage with real action,” Iordanova said. She described their detention as illegal and a sign of how much Russia fears the truth, the press release added.

The report and resolution debated during the session revealed that since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, 108 media workers have been killed and at least 26 journalists have been unlawfully detained. Some have been subjected to enforced disappearance, torture, or even death. Iordanova authored the expert opinion on the report and resolution, which were adopted unanimously at the end of the session.

During the debate, Iordanova also presented two amendments to the report drafted by Ukrainian MP Yevheniia Kravchuk from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s party. She proposed including a text obliging Russia to comply with European Court of Human Rights rulings on the release of detained journalists. She also pushed for a decisive call on PACE member states and the International Criminal Court to investigate direct and public incitement to commit genocide against the Ukrainian people. Both proposals were approved and adopted by the Assembly, the press release added.

European leaders will meet in Copenhagen for informal talks focused on defence and the war in Ukraine.