UN demands Russia to confirm death of Ukrainian journalist Roshchyna in Russian captivity

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on the Russian authorities to confirm reports of the death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, who disappeared on 3 August 2023 in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine while covering the life of people under Russian occupation.

Source: a statement by the UN

Details: Roshchyna was arbitrarily detained by Russian troops in Russian-occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, without trial or investigation and without charge, and then deported to Russia. 

Roshchyna was the recipient of the International Women's Media Foundation's Courage in Journalism Award for 2022 and was known for her independent journalism about Russia's war against Ukraine.

Human rights activists said that Roshchyna was last seen on 8 September 2024 in the Taganrog Detention Centre No. 2 in Russia’s Rostov Oblast. However, her whereabouts have remained unknown since then. 

On 10 October 2024, Victoria's father received a letter from the Russian Ministry of Defence stating, without any documentary evidence, that she had died in captivity on 19 September 2024. No details were provided as to the circumstances or cause of her death.

Quote: "Should her death be confirmed, we call for the immediate return of her body home so that an independent investigation into the cause and circumstances of her death could be undertaken, including an independent autopsy. If confirmed, Russian authorities would bear responsibility for the arbitrary deprivation of life in State custody."

For reference: The Taganrog Detention Centre No. 2 is known for torturing prisoners. Those who have managed to escape from there tell of horrific electroshock torture, brutal beatings, rape, sexual violence and denial of necessary medical care.

"Taganrog (and Berdiansk too, where they tortured prisoners with electric shocks) is known as one of the most brutal places for Ukrainians in Russia. It's called hell on earth. In particular, Azov fighters from Azovstal are held there. Released prisoners recount horrific torture. There, everyone who the Russians want to label as criminals is forced to confess to crimes they did not commit. Later, they are transferred to Rostov for trial," says Tetiana Katrychenko, Executive Director of the human rights organisation Media Initiative for Human Rights. 

Read Viktoriia Roshchyna’s articles for Ukrainska Pravda

Background:

• Viktoriia Roshchyna disappeared on 3 August 2023 while reporting from Russian-occupied territory.
• In 2022, Roshchyna wrote a series of articles for Ukrainska Pravda from the temporarily occupied territories. Her work included stories about life in occupied Crimea during the war, the sham referendum in occupied Donetsk Oblast, and a photo report from the devastated city of Mariupol. 
• On 25 July 2023, Roshchyna left Ukraine for Poland, planning to make the three-day journey via Russia to the occupied part of Ukraine's east.
• It was not until May 2024 that Russia admitted to having detained Roshchyna. The Russian Ministry of Defence sent a letter confirming this to her father, Volodymyr Roshchyn.

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