European Federation of Journalists calls for stronger sanctions against Russia

This was stated in a comment to Ukrinform by Ricardo Gutiérrez, Secretary General of the European Federation of Journalists, following a special screening in Brussels of the documentary Free the Voices about Ukrainian media workers abducted by Russia.

Gutiérrez said that during discussions on the situation of Ukrainian journalists, EU officials usually agree with the arguments but do not take immediate action. In this context, he emphasized the need to strengthen targeted sanctions against Russia.

“I see no other option but to strengthen targeted sanctions against Russia, because thanks to investigative work we know who is behind these unlawful detentions,” he said.

He added that journalism itself and documenting such cases is the profession’s best response, noting that the federation will again adopt a declaration on imprisoned journalists at its annual meeting in Ankara in a few weeks.

Meanwhile, First Secretary of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, Lina Kushch, told Ukrinform that the unlawful detention of media workers is a systemic practice of the aggressor state, not isolated incidents.

According to verified data from the union, at least 28 journalists are currently missing or in captivity, and the fate of many remains unknown.

Kushch noted that bringing media workers home is a difficult and lengthy process, particularly because journalists are civilians and do not have prisoner-of-war status, which complicates their inclusion in exchange lists.

She outlined three key areas of cooperation with the international community: support for families of detained journalists, legal expertise from European institutions to document these crimes, and the use of both official and informal channels to help find ways to assist colleagues.

She added that European institutions should officially recognize the forced disappearance of journalists as a systematic practice of Russia rather than isolated incidents.

As previously reported, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine presented the documentary Free the Voices in Brussels on May 26 about the illegal detention of Ukrainian media workers by the aggressor state.