The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called for the safe return
of Vasily Klimentyev, editor in chief of Novy
Stil ( New style) newspaper who has been missing since 11 August.
"We are deeply
concerned about the safety of Klimentyev," said Aidan White, IFJ General
Secretary. "The Government must do all it can to identify his whereabouts and
return him to his family and colleagues who must be fearing the worst."
According to
security sources quoted in Ukrainian press, Klimentyev went missing on 11
August after he left his home with an unidentified man. Klimentyev's colleagues say he set out to
photograph luxurious residences belonging to a high ranking official in the
Regional tax inspectorate. Shortly afterwards, contact with the journalist was
lost.
The
journalists' colleagues believe his disappearance is linked to his
investigative work into corruption in local courts, the police and the tax
inspectorate. This view was reinforced after his mobile phone was discovered on
a boat on the Pechenezhsky reservoir on the outskirts of Kharkov. The police
are investigating the possibility of premeditated murder.
Meanwhile, the
authorities have promised a reward of 20,000 hryvna (approximately 2,500 US
dollars) for information that could help establish the whereabouts of the
missing journalist. The Minister of Internal Affairs for the Ukraine, Anatoly
Mogilyov, and the chairman of the Kharkov Region administration, Mikhail
Dobkin, have placed the investigation under their personal supervision, media
reports say.
The IFJ says
Klimentyev's disappearance raises the spectre of renewed violence against
independent journalists, one month before the tenth anniversary of the brutal
murder of prominent journalist Gyorgy Gongadze. This disappearance is the latest in a
series of incidents and legal restrictions targeting journalists including
assaults, surveillance and withdrawal of broadcasting licenses to private media
outlets.
"There is clear evidence of attempts to roll back
press freedom in Ukraine," added White. "We support Ukrainian journalists and
their unions in their efforts to resist political interference, fight media
manipulation and end violence against their colleagues."
For more information contact the IFJ at
+32 235 2207
The IFJ represents over
600,000 journalists in 125 countries worldwide
- IFJ
- Media centre
- News
- IFJ Calls for Safe Return of Missing Ukraine Journalist