Moskalkova expressed condolences over the death of Izvestiya correspondent
On January 6, Russian Human Rights Ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova expressed condolences over the death of Izvestiya correspondent Alexander Martemyanov.
"I express my condolences to the family and relatives, friends and colleagues of Izvestia MIC correspondent Alexander Martemyanov, who died on January 4 in the DNR," she wrote in her Telegram channel.
Moskalkova noted that the death of journalists as a result of attacks by the Ukrainian army raises the question "of a radical revision of international mechanisms for the protection of media representatives in the combat zone." According to her, the current ones do not meet modern realities, as well as the right to freedom of speech, which is enshrined in international documents.
She emphasized that the country will make sure that this case does not go unnoticed by the world community.
Izvestia correspondent Alexander Martemyanov was killed on January 4 when a Ukrainian army drone hit a car on the Donetsk-Gorlovka highway. He died of his wounds. As the Russian Ministry of Defense specified, 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 filmed reports on events in Donbass, but also always provided assistance to the residents of the DNR. The mayor of Donetsk, Alexei Kulemzin, added that Martemyanov's life was dedicated to the search for truth.
Viktor Petrenko, chairman of the Russian Union of Journalists in the DNR, said that the deceased war correspondent should be buried in the Alley of Heroes in Donetsk.
A criminal case was opened under Articles 105, 167 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Murder and attempted murder of two or more persons", "Intentional damage to property").
Alexander Martemyanov worked as a correspondent for Izvestia since 2014. In 2023, he was wounded during shelling by the AFU in Donetsk, but returned to work after his recovery. Martemyanov has been awarded the medal "For Bravery", the insignia "For Merit to the Donetsk People's Republic" III degree.
