OSCE Representative mourns deaths of murdered journalists in Finland

VIENNA, 5 December 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today said she was deeply saddened upon learning of the murder of two Finnish journalists and a politician in Imatra, eastern Finland, late on Saturday evening.

“My sincere condolences go out to the victims’ families, friends and colleagues. I trust that the authorities will conduct a swift and transparent investigation and bring the assailant to justice,” Mijatović said, noting that police have arrested a suspect in the killings.  

During the evening of 3 December, two journalists and a politician were shot dead outside of a restaurant in the town of Imatra in eastern Finland by a lone gunman. The two journalists were working for Uutisvuoksi’s and Etelä-Saimaa’s news rooms in Imatra. It is not clear if the killings had any connection to the journalists’ professional activities.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.