Secretary General

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe strongly condemns the appalling murder of journalist Pavlo Sheremet in Kyiv today. He calls on the Ukrainian authorities and law-enforcement agencies to quickly and effectively investigate this crime as an important message to society that perpetrators and organisers of violence against journalists are to be brought to justice. The Council of Europe supports the efforts of the Ukrainian authorities towards this aim.

Violence against journalists is a direct attack on freedom of expression and freedom of the media. The murder of Pavlo Sheremet indicates that the atmosphere of hatred and suspicion towards journalists in Ukraine has serious consequences and costs lives. The necessary conditions to ensure the safety of journalists should be restored in Ukraine.