Ambassador Neil Holland reaffirms UK support for media freedom and the safety of journalists across the OSCE region. He called for journalists held by Russia to be released, attacks investigated, perpetrators held accountabl…
Thank you, Chair. Welcome back to the Permanent Council, Representative, dear Jan, and thank you for your report.
The United Kingdom remains steadfast in its commitment to media freedom and is a strong supporter of your mandate here at the OSCE, and we urge participating States to cooperate, heed recommendations and uphold the 2018 Milan Decision on the Safety of Journalists.
We fully agree with your assessment that media freedom is a necessary condition for peace and security, not a peripheral or second-order issue. As we mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, we reiterate that attacks against journalists must be investigated and those responsible held to account.
This is particularly evident in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. UN and ODIHR reporting documents killings, injuries, arbitrary detention and other serious violations against journalists, as well as sustained attacks on civilian infrastructure essential to independent media. At least 26 Ukrainian journalists remain in Russian captivity, many convicted on fabricated charges.