The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has strongly condemned the killing of journalists Alexander Fedorchak, Andrei Panov, and media worker Alexander Sirkeli in Luhansk, Eastern Ukraine.
The three were killed on March 24 when their vehicle was struck by a rocket.
Fedorchak, a correspondent for the Russian state newspaper Izvestia, and Panov, a cameraman for Zvezda, the official television channel of the Russian Armed Forces, lost their lives alongside their driver, Sirkeli.
Azoulay called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident, emphasizing the need for adherence to international humanitarian law.
She reiterated her call for the observance of international humanitarian law, including United Nations Security Council Resolution 2222 on the protection of journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel in situations of conflict.
UNESCO has reaffirmed its commitment to the safety of journalists through global awareness campaigns, capacity-building initiatives, and the coordination of the implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
