20 December 2000

Alert

RSF denounces serious press freedom situation


Incident details

Georgiy Gongadze

journalist(s)

missing

This is available in:

English Français


(RSF/IFEX) - The following is a 19 December 2000 RSF press release:

Reporters sans frontières denounces serious press freedom situation

Despite the Council of Europe's threats to suspend Ukraine's membership in 1999, the press freedom situation in the country seriously deteriorated during 2000. Ukraine has joined the list of countries where press freedom is in serious trouble.




Attacks and threats against journalists have been increasing. At least twenty have been recorded by Reporters sans frontières (RSF) since 1 January 2000. Meanwhile, harassment by the tax authorities and heavy fines for libel are stifling the independent press financially.

The circumstances in which journalist Georgiy Gongadze went missing are indicative of the intimidating and threatening atmosphere surrounding the freedom to inform in Ukraine. Gongadze, founder and editor-in-chief of the online newspaper www.pravda.com.ua, which is highly critical of the government, had been threatened by the police in the weeks leading up to his disappearance on 16 September 2000. A headless body found in November could be the journalist's, according to various sources. Meanwhile, revelations made by a Ukrainian secret service officer in November about the possible involvement of high-ranking officials in Gongadze's disappearance make it a matter of urgency to get to the bottom of this very serious case.

RSF calls on the Ukrainian authorities to do everything in their power - with international assistance if necessary - to identify the body beyond any doubt, and to have the recordings submitted to parliament examined by experts. We also call on international and European institutions to remind the Ukrainian government that the current situation is incompatible with Ukraine's international commitments, and particularly its status as a member of the Council of Europe.

"We encourage and support the struggle of Ukrainian journalists in their search to discover the truth," said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. "The Ukrainian authorities' commitments to press freedom cannot be regarded as credible as long as the case of Georgiy Gongadze's disappearance has not been cleared up," added Ménard.





Source:

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
47, rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
France
rsf (@) rsf.org
Phone: +33 1 44 83 84 84
Fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51
@rsf_rwb
 

Stay on top of free expression news.

Sign up to receive the weekly IFEX Communiqué.


More on this case

Former president must be prosecuted in Gongadze murder, says CPJ 15 December 2011 Gongadze murder suspect admits to killing, names former president Kuchma as conspirator 1 September 2011 Trial of Gongadze murder suspect should be open to public, says CPJ 17 August 2011 Former president indicted in journalist's murder 25 March 2011 CPJ concerned by irregularities in Gongadze case 2 March 2011 Joint statement on the 10th anniversary of journalist Gyorgy Gongadze's death 20 September 2010 IFJ, IMI renew call for action in investigation into Gongadze murder 18 September 2009 Ukraine must seize opportunity of confessions to reporter's murder to reveal truth, says IFJ 27 July 2009 Resolution calls for further action to prosecute former officials who may have been behind journalist Giorgiy Gongadze's killing 30 January 2009 European parliamentarians call for justice for slain journalist Georgiy Gongadze 26 June 2008 Three former policemen convicted of murder of journalist Georgiy Gongadze 17 March 2008 IFJ demands withdrawal of award to judge who closed case against prime suspect in Gongadze murder 19 December 2007 IFJ calls on president to withdraw honour for prosecutor in charge of failed investigation of journalist's death 27 March 2007 Former president questioned in Gongadze murder investigation, two Interior Ministry officers charged 14 March 2005 DNA test confirms body is that of disappeared journalist Georgiy Gongadze 12 March 2003 CPJ marks second anniversary of journalist's disappearance 16 September 2002 Deputy prosecutor general makes misleading statement in attempt to delay launch of international commission of inquiry into journalist Georgiy Gongadze's disappearance and murder 30 January 2002 Council of Europe supports creation of independent commission of inquiry in Gongadze case 28 September 2001 CPJ supports call for international inquiry on anniversary of journalist's disappearance 19 September 2001 One year of impunity for journalist Georgy Gongadze's killers 13 September 2001 Authorities compel murdered journalist Georgiy Gongadze's mother to bury his body 5 June 2001 Authorities "shed light on" journalist Georgiy Gongadze's assassination 16 May 2001 License of radio station that rebroadcasts BBC revoked ten days before vote on the exclusion of Ukraine from the Council of Europe 17 April 2001 RSF urges new interior minister to put a stop to the violence against journalists 26 March 2001 RSF calls for a full investigation into the Ministry of the Interior to uncover those responsible for journalist Georgiy Gongadze's murder 22 March 2001 RSF asks FBI team in Kiev for new autopsy on body of murdered journalist Georgy Gongadze 16 March 2001 Legal authorities acknowledge that journalist Georgiy Gongadze was murdered 28 February 2001 RSF asks to take part in international inquiry into case of missing journalist Georgiy Gongadze 22 December 2000 CPJ calls for independent investigation into Gongadze disappearance 15 December 2000 IFJ deeply concerned by recent discovery of possible remains of journalist Georgy Gongadze 29 November 2000 Decapitated corpse found, could be that of journalist missing since September 28 November 2000 CPJ concerned about journalist's disappearance 26 September 2000 Editor missing 20 September 2000

Ukraine

Editor reported missing in Lvov region 29 March 2012 Court decision threatens future of country's largest newspaper 10 February 2012 Former president must be prosecuted in Gongadze murder, says CPJ 15 December 2011 Newspaper photographer murdered in Kiev 1 December 2011 Opposition TV channel disappears from the airwaves 26 October 2011 See all alerts: Ukraine


 
IFEX is a global network of committed organisations working to defend and promote free expression.
Permission is granted for material on this website to be reproduced or republished in whole or in part provided the source member and/or IFEX is cited with a link to the original item.