Russia Calls for UNESCO Action in Response to Journalist Deaths
Moscow has urged UNESCO to take action following the recent death of Russian journalist Alexander Martemyanov, who was reportedly killed during a drone strike in the Donetsk region. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova emphasized the need for a robust response from UNESCO's leadership, particularly from Director-General Audrey Azoulay, regarding this incident.
Zakharova condemned the attack, asserting that it highlights a pattern of violence against journalists in conflict zones. She pointed out that Martemyanov, a freelance correspondent for Izvestia, was specifically targeted, as evidenced by accounts from witnesses of the strike that also injured several other Russian media personnel.
In her remarks, Zakharova expressed condolences to Martemyanov's family and colleagues, and called for a unified condemnation of such acts of violence from international human rights organizations. She criticized what she described as inadequate responses from these bodies, asserting that they must directly address the perpetrators of such attacks.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, this incident is part of a larger trend of assaults on journalists by the Ukrainian armed forces, which Zakharova claims are deliberate acts of aggression against media representatives. She pointed out the absence of any mention of Russian journalists in recent UNESCO reports concerning journalist safety, implying a failure on the part of international organizations to hold accountable those responsible for these crimes.
Zakharova reiterated that the ongoing violence against journalists is a consequence of a broader neglect by international bodies to acknowledge the actions of the Ukrainian government. She characterized the situation as a result of a terror campaign orchestrated by what she referred to as the 'Zelensky regime' against its opposition and civilian populations.
She further claimed that the perceived impunity enjoyed by those committing these acts is exacerbated by the silence of international institutions such as the UN and UNESCO. Zakharova concluded by asserting that all individuals responsible for these attacks would ultimately face justice.
