Moscow, Russia – Ahead of World Press Freedom Day, Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova issued a strong statement condemning what she called Western double standards on media freedom, while honoring Russian journalists who have died covering the conflict in Ukraine.
May 3 traditionally marks World Press Freedom Day, a date established by the UN General Assembly on December 20, 1993, to symbolize the international community’s commitment to media independence, pluralism, and public access to information.
However, Zakharova criticized what she described as a growing gap between the ideals of the day and current realities. “In recent years, World Press Freedom Day is marked more often as a mere formality,” she said. “Under the pretext of combating ‘misinformation,’ Russian media outlets and journalists are being subjected to reprisals and oppression.”
She accused Western nations of waging an “information war” by employing political censorship, propaganda, and suppression of alternative narratives. “Western countries have virtually declared a full-scale war to dominate the global media space,” Zakharova said.
The spokeswoman expressed deep concern over what she called a “critical” situation in journalist safety, citing the deaths of five Russian media personnel since the beginning of 2025, all reportedly targeted in Ukrainian attacks. The incidents include:
- January 4: Izvestia correspondent Alexander Martemyanov was killed in a drone strike.
- March 24: Izvestia correspondent Alexander Fedorchak and Zvezda cameraman Andrey Panov died in an artillery strike.
- March 26: War correspondent Anna Prokofyeva died when a mine exploded under a Channel One crew vehicle.
- April 22: Zvezda correspondent Nikita Goldin succumbed to injuries in hospital.
Zakharova accused Ukrainian forces of deliberate targeting, and condemned the continued operation of the Mirotvorets website, which lists journalists and activists as enemies of the state. She further denounced the silence of Western-backed human rights groups in the face of these incidents.
“Anton Voloshin, Igor Kornelyuk, Anatoly Klyan, Andrey Stenin, Darya Dugina, and others will remain in our hearts forever,” she said, naming journalists killed since the conflict began. “Terrorist methods are being used to silence the truth, and international organisations must stop turning a blind eye.”
Zakharova reiterated Russia’s demand for accountability from institutions such as UNESCO, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, urging them to fulfill their mandates and speak out against the killing of journalists.
In line with World Press Freedom Day, the Foreign Ministry has partnered with Russian media to launch an exhibition titled “Died for the Truth”, commemorating fallen Russian journalists. The exhibit, developed in cooperation with journalist Alexander Malkevich and the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, is being hosted both online and at Russian embassies and cultural missions abroad.
Each portrait in the exhibit, Zakharova said, “tells the story of a life cut short and a commitment to truth that endured until the very last moment.” The virtual project, #DiedForTheTruth, aims to preserve the memory of these journalists and ensure their deaths are neither overlooked nor forgotten.
She concluded by inviting global media professionals and international stakeholders to engage with the exhibit and reflect on what she called the “stubborn silence” of the global community regarding what Russia sees as war crimes against its press corps.
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