The informal OSCE Group of Friends on Safety of Journalists highlighted the flagrant and systematic assault on media freedom and independent journalists by the Russian Federation and Belarus
On 5 May 2022 in Vienna, at the Permanent Council of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) the informal OSCE Group of Friends on Safety of Journalists, composed of 16 participating States, including Lithuania, delivered a Joint Statement in commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day that was marked on 3 May.
In its Statement, the Group of Friends has brought again to the attention the cruel fate of journalists and media actors killed in the course of their journalistic work, while covering the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine. Russian forces, however, reportedly are also detaining and abducting journalists and media actors, as well as using methods amounting to torture against them. The Group of Friends unequivocally condemned these violent assaults, the exploitation of the media to spread harmful disinformation, and draconian restrictions used to silence independent media coverage within the Russian Federation itself.
In addition, states participating in this Group of Friends expressed a particular concern regarding the similarly dire situation in Belarus, there 25 journalists remain imprisoned.
The members of the Group of Friends commended the courage of all journalists and media actors who, at great personal risk and sacrifice, continue to report the facts, and called on Russia and Belarus to immediately end their attacks on independent media, respect the rights of journalists and media workers, and release all those arbitrary detained.
The statement delivered on behalf of the informal OSCE Group of Friends on Safety of Journalists can be read here.
