"It would set a dangerous precedent": media organisations oppose clause in "peace plan"
Several leading international press freedom organisations have stated their opposition to a provision in the US "peace plan" on amnesty for war crimes, including those committed against journalists, warning that it would create a "dangerous legal precedent".
Source: Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in a statement published on the website of the International Press Institute
Details: The statement was signed by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, Reporters Without Borders, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, and the Institute of Mass Information.
The signatories are demanding that those responsible for the killings of at least 16 journalists, the wounding of dozens of media workers and attacks on media infrastructure be identified and brought to justice.
Among those killed are Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, who died after being tortured in Russian captivity in 2024; French photojournalist Antoni Lallican; and Ukrainian reporters Olena Hubanova and Yevhen Karmazin, killed by Russian drone strikes in autumn 2025.
The statement says that investigations should rely, among other sources, on the expertise of Ukrainian journalists and media outlets.
Quote: "...Any attempt to introduce blanket amnesty that covers potential war crimes committed against journalists, or civilians, would represent a severe breach of international law including international humanitarian law and relevant human rights obligations."
Details: They add that all warring parties must protect journalists as civilians, and the deliberate targeting of journalists or media infrastructure is a war crime that must be investigated under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and applicable domestic law.
The statement notes that no form of amnesty would have legal grounds.
As of November 2025, the MFRR has documented 53 attempts to destroy Ukrainian media infrastructure. The signatories note that recent months have been one of the deadliest periods for journalists since the start of the full-scale invasion due to the rise in targeted attacks on the press.
Quote: "We therefore strongly urge all parties involved in peace deal discussions – including the US and the EU – not to agree to any measures granting amnesty for war crimes committed against journalists, as civilians. Any such concessions would dramatically undermine international treaties and international humanitarian law, set a dangerous legal precedent, and send a signal to the world that attacks against journalists and civilians can go unpunished."
Details: The signatories also express support for efforts by the Council of Europe to establish a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and call for the process to be expedited.
Background: As of October 2025, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have charged 17 Russians with crimes against journalists. Three Russians have been convicted, and a further 11 indictments have been filed with the courts.
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