The immediate release of the illegally detained Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko should be a priority - Minister Pavlo Klimkin said during his meeting with OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović.

The Minister stated that since the beginning of the illegal occupation of Crimea by Russia, freedom of speech and journalists' rights have been regularly violated by the Russian authorities. All independent media in the temporally occupied territory were forced to close, including the Crimean TV Channel ATR. Russia is continuing its persecution and repression of journalists who expressed their disagreement with the Russian occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula.

Another testament to the fact that Russia constantly practices tortures was opening a criminal case against the journalist Mykola Semena. During the meeting it was stressed that such a policy of Kremlin requires an adequate response and condemnation from the international community and the OSCE institutions.

At the meeting Minister assured that the Government of Ukraine gives special importance to ensuring safety of journalists and media freedom in the country.