OSCE media freedom representative and Council of Europe concerned over death of journalist in Ukraine

VIENNA/STRASBOURG, 18 December 2003 - Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and Freimut Duve, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, voiced their concern today over the death of another journalist in Ukraine.

Volodymyr Karachevtsev, Chairman of the Independent Regional Union of Journalists and acting Editor-in-chief of Kuryer newspaper, was found dead on 14 December in Melitopol, Zaporizhzhya region. Local police believe that his death was a result of an accident, but have not ruled out murder.

"This is not the first case of a Ukrainian journalist to be found dead under suspicious circumstances. In October 2002, news agency director Mykhailo Kolomiets was found hanging from a tree in neighbouring Belarus. The case of killed Internet journalist Georgiy Gongadze is still pending," said Duve.

In the past, Karachevtsev received threats after writing articles about corruption among local government officials and businessmen. Karachevtsev's wife also claims that his death was not an accident or a suicide.

Since 1991, media organizations estimate that 18 journalists have died in Ukraine because of their work. Many of these cases remain unsolved.

"We urge the Ukrainian authorities to conduct a thorough and swift investigation into the death of Volodymyr Karachevtsev and to make the findings public," said Schwimmer.