Press release

Director-General condemns killing of journalists Oleksandra Kuvshynova and Pierre Zakrzewski in Ukraine

The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has condemned the killings of Ukrainian producer and fixer, Oleksandra Kuvshynova and Irish journalist and cameraman, Pierre Zakrzewski, in Gorenka, outside Kyiv, Ukraine on Monday 14 March.
observatory_map_journalist
UNESCO
PR/34
March 15, 2022
Last update: April 21, 2022

Both journalists were killed while reporting for Fox News during shelling which also injured another journalist, who remains in hospital.

I condemn the killings of Oleksandra Kuvshynova and Pierre Zakrzewski. Journalists have a critical role in providing information during a conflict, and should never be targeted. I call for the respect of international humanitarian standards, to ensure that journalists and media workers are protected.
Audrey Azoulay
Audrey Azoulay UNESCO Director-General

Zakrzewski was a veteran warzone photographer who had covered many conflicts including those in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. Kuvshynova was a 24-year old-local journalist. She had been working with Fox News for one month prior to her death.

UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity building and a range of actions, notably in the framework of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

Last year, UNESCO published a policy brief on the safety of foreign correspondents to raise attention to the specific risks and threats they face.

 

See also: UNESCO observatory of killed journalists

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