UN OHCHR commented on the death of Izvestiya correspondent Martemyanov

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is aware of the death of Izvestiya correspondent Alexander Martemyanov in a drone attack. Journalists should be able to work without fear for their lives, UN OHCHR spokesperson Elizabeth Trossel said at a briefing in Geneva on January 7.

"We always reiterate that journalists enjoy special protection and should be able to do their work without fear for their lives or being prevented from doing their work," Trossel said, her remarks broadcast on Reuters' YouTube channel.

The OHCHR spokesperson indicated that the UN entity was aware of the reports but did not have specific information about them to comment directly on Martemyanov's death.

Illegal target: Moscow will raise the topic of the murder of Russian journalists at the UN Security Council

Izvestiya military correspondent Alexander Martemyanov killed, four representatives of other media outlets wounded after AFU drone attack on January 4

Izvestiya correspondent Alexander Martemyanov was killed on January 4 when a Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) drone struck a car on the Donetsk-Gorlovka highway. He died of his wounds. As specified by the Russian Ministry of Defense, RIA Novosti correspondents Maxim Romanenko and Mikhail Kevkhiev, Bloknot Donetsk editor Svetlana Larina and military correspondent Isabella Liberman also received shrapnel wounds as a result of the AFU attack.

Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), noted that Martemyanov's materials about Donbass "were brave and objective," and the journalist himself was always "at the forefront." At the same time, he not only prepared reports on events in Donbass, but also always helped the residents of the DNR. The mayor of Donetsk, Alexei Kulemzin, added that Martemyanov's life was dedicated to the search for the truth.

After the death of the correspondent, a criminal case was opened under Articles 105 and 167 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Murder and attempted murder of two or more persons", "Intentional damage to property").

Viktor Petrenko, the chairman of the Union of Journalists of Russia (SZhR) in the DNR, suggested that Martemyanov be buried in the Alley of Heroes in Donetsk, and said that this idea is supported by the SZhR central office in Moscow and the People's Council of the DNR parliament. In addition, Izvestia created a memorial dedicated to the war correspondent in the building of the Izvestia International Center, and people bring flowers there.

On January 6, the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation, Tatyana Moskalkova, expressed her condolences over Martemyanov's death and pointed out that the killing of journalists during attacks by the Ukrainian army suggests that international mechanisms for the protection of media workers in war zones should be radically reconsidered.

Alexander Martemyanov had worked as a correspondent for Izvestia since 2014. In 2023, he was wounded in Donetsk during shelling by the AFU, but after his recovery he continued working. Martemyanov was awarded the medal "For Bravery" and the insignia "For Merit to the Donetsk People's Republic" of the III degree.