On March 12, the brave Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who lost her life in Russian captivity, was posthumously honoured with the 2024 Homo Homini Human Rights Award by the Czech organisation People in Need. Sevgil Musayeva, the chief editor of Ukrainska Pravda, accepted the award in Prague, as announced by activist Maksym Butkevych. Roshchyna shares this prestigious accolade with Nigerian journalist Philip Obaji.
The award recognises Roshchyna’s unwavering commitment to revealing the stories of Ukrainians enduring the anguish of Russian occupation. The People in Need executive board praised her long-standing dedication to journalistic integrity, highlighting her courage to confront dangers to Ukraine’s democratic fabric, even at great personal risk.
Roshchyna vanished in August 2023 while investigating the Russian-occupied regions, with Moscow later confirming her detention in 2024. Earlier, in March 2022, she had faced a ten-day ordeal in captivity, detained by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) while attempting to leave Berdiansk en route to Mariupol. During her release, she was coerced into creating a video claiming that her life had been saved by Russian forces.
Ukrainian officials announced Roshchyna’s death on October 10, 2024, yet the circumstances remain murky amidst ongoing investigations. Reports from the Media Initiative for Human Rights indicated that she had been imprisoned in two infamous Russian facilities noted for their brutal treatment of prisoners. It was revealed that Roshchyna was removed from the Taganrog detention centre in September 2024, with Russian sources stating that she passed away on September 19.
Ukrainian prosecutors now regard Roshchyna’s death as a war crime, categorising it as cold-blooded murder as they seek justice for the journalist’s tragic fate.
Viktoria Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist, was posthumously awarded the 2024 Homo Homini Human Rights Award for her fearless reporting on Russian-occupied territories. Accepted by Sevgil Musayeva in Prague, the award pays tribute to Roshchyna’s dedication to truth amidst peril. Despite her disappearance in August 2023, Roshchyna’s death is being investigated as a murder and war crime, emphasising the danger faced by journalists in conflict situations.
In conclusion, the posthumous recognition of Viktoria Roshchyna underscores the profound risks journalists face in conflict zones, shedding light on her bravery in reporting on the strife in Russian-occupied territories. Her story is a call to action for justice and accountability, reflecting the sacrifices made for truth in tumultuous times. Roshchyna’s legacy will resonate in the ongoing struggle for human rights and freedom of press in Ukraine and beyond.
Original Source: kyivindependent.com
