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OSCE demands to investigate murder of Italian reporter and his interpreter in Ukraine

The organization’s media freedom representative states that the situation around journalists’ safety in this country continues worsening
Interpreter Andrei Mironov and photographer Andrea Rocchelli EPA/GABRIELE MICALIZZI / CESURA
Interpreter Andrei Mironov and photographer Andrea Rocchelli
© EPA/GABRIELE MICALIZZI / CESURA

VIENNA, May 25. /ITAR-TASS/. OSCE media freedom representative Dunja Mijatović demanded from Kiev authorities to investigate the circumstances of death of an Italian reporter and his interpreter in Ukraine.

”I call on the authorities to swiftly and thoroughly investigate the circumstances of this deadly attack and to hold those responsible accountable”, Mijatović said.

The media freedom representative has also expressed sincere condolences to Andrea Rocchelli’s and Andrei Mironov’s families and colleagues, noting that the situation around journalists’ safety in Ukraine continues worsening. “These deaths are horrid reminders that not enough is being done to protect journalists who risk their lives reporting from conflict zones in Ukraine,” Mijatović said. “I have raised my concern about the appalling situation regarding journalists’ safety in the country on numerous occasions, but it has continued to deteriorate," Mijatović said.

{history:1956:'Read also':'right':'50'}The incident with the Italian journalist

The Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Sunday the death of Andrea Rocchelli outside Sloviansk in the Donetsk region.

Rocchelli, 30, was specializing in “trouble spots” across the world. He made photo reports from Afghanistan, Libya and Algeria.

On Saturday, the Ukrainian media reported that Rocchelli together with his French colleague William Roguelon and interpreter Andrei Mironov had come under mortar fire in the south of Sloviansk surrounded by the Ukrainian military.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini requested the Ukrainian authorities on Sunday to clarify the circumstances, in which Italian photographer Andrea Rocchelli had been killed in the east Ukrainian city of Sloviansk.

“We’re requesting you to clarify within the shortest time possible the circumstances of the attack that killed an Italian citizen,” the Italian minister of foreign affairs said in an official statement.