I deplore the death of Yevhen Bal and reiterate my call for the rights of journalists to be respected in line with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2222 of 2015 on the protection of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situations of conflict. The circumstances of his death must be thoroughly and independently investigated.Audrey AzoulayUNESCO Director-General
Ukrainian journalist and writer Yevhen Bal, 78 years old, was taken from his home in Melekine (district of Mariupol) by Russian military forces and held in detention from 18 to 21 March 2022 near Manhush (district of Mariupol). He died a few days later from cardiac arrest. Reports suggest that it was a result of the violence he suffered in detention.
Bal was a member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) as well as of the Ukrainian National Union of Writers and worked with the newspaper, the Uryadovy Courier. He also authored essays on the war in Donbas.
UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity building and by coordinating the implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
