Ukraine – Death of the journalist Pierre Zakrzewski (16 Mar. 2022)

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I was deeply shocked to hear of the deaths in Ukraine of the Franco-Irish journalist Pierre Zakrzewski and the Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra Kuvshynova. They were both killed in the same attack, alongside Benjamin Hall, who was seriously wounded. Pierre Zakrzewski worked for the Fox News channel and had covered very many theatres of war, as a fervent campaigner for freedom of information.

I extend my sincerest condolences to his family and close friends, as well as those of Oleksandra Kuvshynova, and stand by them in the face of this tragedy.

Following the deaths of Brent Renaud and then Evgeny Sakun in the Russian armed forces’ attack on the TV tower in Kyiv, I repeat that the armed forces have an obligation to protect journalists in accordance with international humanitarian law, and I utterly condemn any action which targets them.

France reaffirms its steadfast, resolute commitment to press freedom, freedom of expression and the protection of journalists and all those whose expression contributes to free, pluralistic information and public debate, throughout the world.

These events illustrate the extreme dangerousness today of what is happening in Ukraine.