NGO Crimean Process prepared recommendations on imprisoned journalists for new UN Special Rapporteur
The human rights organisation Crimean Process has prepared recommendations for the new UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, urging greater attention to journalists held in Russian custodial settings. The organisation compared its own data with information from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Crimean Process reported on its website.
Illustrative photo from open sourcesAccording to CPJ, 330 media workers are imprisoned worldwide. Crimean Process says that 17 Crimean journalists are held in Russian detention facilities. This means that one in 20 imprisoned journalists worldwide is from occupied Crimea.
The organisation stressed that international attention to journalists persecuted for expressing their views declines sharply once they have been sentenced. It highlighted the misuse of disciplinary measures against Crimean journalists in Russian detention facilities, as well as ill-treatment, violations of their religious rights and inadequate medical care.
“After sentencing, people persecuted for expressing their views receive virtually no attention from the public, let alone international institutions. For example, not long ago, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression ignored an appeal from Reporters Without Borders concerning the abuse of Crimean journalist Iryna Danylovych. Today, we submitted recommendations urging the UN Special Rapporteur to pay greater attention to imprisoned journalists and, in particular, to ensure that every report of violations of their rights in prison receives a response”, Crimean Process stated.
The recommendations concern the strategic priorities of the UN Special Rapporteur’s mandate for 2026–2029. In its submission, Crimean Process also called for substantive discussions on establishing an international register of individuals involved in enforced disappearances, unlawful prosecutions and ill-treatment of journalists in detention.
ZMINA previously reported that UN Special Rapporteurs had yet to respond to the appeal concerning Iryna Danylovych.
ZMINA also reported that a public council attached to a parliamentary committee in Ukraine had called for journalist Iryna Levchenko to be included on prisoner exchange lists after she was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
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