IFJ Urges Ukraine to Investigate Killing of Russian Cameraman in Donetsk

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has today urged authorities in Ukraine to investigate an incident in which a Russian cameraman was shot dead in the city of Donetsk. Media reports said that Anatoly Klyan who worked for the Russian public television, Channel One, was fatally wounded in the stomach when the convoy he was travelling in came under fire reportedly from Ukrainian forces. “This is one killing too many in Ukraine which only increases concerns of indiscriminate attacks on journalists in the east of the country,” said IFJ President Jim Boumelha. “We urge the authorities to investigate this and other recent incidents in which journalists have been killed to ensure security forces take appropriate measure to protect all journalists covering the fighting.” Klyan is the 6th journalist to lose his life in Ukraine since the political crisis began in the country. Last week, two other Russian journalists, Igor Kornelyuk, Anton Voloshin were killed in Lugansk. In May, Italian photographer Andrea Rocchelli and his Russian assistant Andrei Mironov were killed in the restive region while journalist Viacheslav Veremii was shot and fatally wounded in the stomach at the height of the Kiev protests in Kiev. In the meantime, two Dutch journalists have been prevented from entering Eastern Ukraine from Crimea which declared independence in April to join the Russian Federation. Saskia Dekkers, reporter for NOS Nieuswuur and his cameraman Peiter Nijeken were turned back in Kherson, according to media sources in Ukraine. This followed measures adopted by the government in Kiev requiring special permission for foreign nationals entering the country from Crimea. The same applies to those wishing to leave Ukraine at crossing point with Crimea. “With the conflict showing no sign of ending, journalists travelling there need to work out ahead of their trip how to reach their destination in Ukraine,” added Beth Costa, IFJ General Secretary. ”It is important that they keep abreast of rules in forces for entry into the country and we will continue to seek and share information on the developments in Ukraine.”
For more information, please contact IFJ on +32 2 235 22 17 The IFJ represents more than 600 000 journalists in 134 countries