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05 November 2025
The Ukrainian Parliament has adopted an appeal to the international community to strengthen sanctions against Russia for crimes against journalists

The Ukrainian Parliament has adopted an appeal to the international community to strengthen sanctions against Russia for crimes against journalists

On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted Resolution No. 14175 — an Appeal to the Parliaments and Governments of the EU and NATO Member States, the United Nations, the Parliamentary Assemblies of the Council of Europe and the OSCE, as well as international organizations.

During the vote on November 5, 2025, the Resolution received 247 votes in favor.

The main calls outlined in the Appeal include:

  • strengthening political, diplomatic, and sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation for crimes against journalists;
  • expanding personal sanctions against those involved in the persecution, torture, and killings of media professionals;
  • introducing additional sanctions against the Russian Federation and the states supporting its regime;
  • intensifying efforts to secure the release of journalists held in captivity;
  • restricting the access of Russian propaganda media to international platforms;
  • reinforcing compliance with international information security standards.

In Crimea, the occupying authorities systematically persecute journalists who document war crimes and human rights violations. As of November 2025, at least 17 Crimean journalists remain imprisoned in occupied Crimea and the Russian Federation, including:
Iryna Danylovych, Dmytro Shtyblikov, Oleksii Bessarabov, Seyran Saliiev, Marlen (Suleiman) Asanov, Tymur Ibragimov, Remzi Bekirov, Ernes Ametov, Rustem Sheikhaliev, Ruslan Suleimanov, Vilen Temeryanov, Osman Arifmemetov, Asan Akhtemov, Server Mustafayev, Aziz Azizov, Amet Suleimanov, and Rustem Osmanov.

The Representative Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea expresses its gratitude to the Members of Parliament for their initiative, supports the Verkhovna Rada’s Appeal, and calls on the international community to make every possible effort to ensure the release of every Ukrainian journalist from Russian captivity.