United States Agency for Global Media

The tragic news about our RFE/RL Current Time colleagues in Belarus

May 15, 2020

The tragic news about our RFE/RL Current Time colleagues in Belarus

A note from Chairman Weinstein and CEO Turner

We are terribly saddened to hear about the loss of two of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) colleagues and the grave injury of another.

Vladimir Mikhailovsky, 33, Maksim Gavrilenko, 26, and Lyubov Zemtsova, 28, were on assignment for Current Time, a 24/7 Russian-language TV and digital network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with the Voice of America, to highlight volunteers who help medical workers in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the three were returning home from that assignment, a fatal car accident took the lives of Mikhailovsky and Gavrilenko and placed Zemtsova in critical condition.

Mikhailovsky, Gavrilenko and Zemtsova were striving to bring accurate, unbiased, and professional news and information about COVID-19 to audiences in Belarus, a country where disinformation about the pandemic persists in news headlines. Their work exemplifies how journalism is an essential lifeline, bringing the most consequential story of our time to the darkest corners of the globe.

This is an utterly tragic loss. These young journalists had so much more to offer the world through their creative and dedicated storytelling. USAGM and its networks join those at Current Time and RFE/RL in mourning the loss of Vladimir Mikhailovsky and Maksim Gavrilenko and in wishing Lyubov Zemtsova a speedy recovery. Our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences go out to their family, friends, and colleagues during this devastating time.

"This is the worst possible news. These young filmmakers were brilliant, talented and inspiring people, and part of a new initiative we launched to bring the best stories from Belarus to audiences that know little or nothing about the country’s people. They imbued their work with a spirit of freshness and hope that we all felt. The loss of Vladimir and Maksim is devastating, and we mourn them with their families. Yesterday was Lyubov’s birthday. All of us at RFE/RL are hoping and praying that she will be able to recover."

—Jamie Fly
RFE/RL President

"These people -- this project -- were full of promise. They were brave, they were intelligent and creative, and so committed to this unique project for Belarus. We are absolutely devastated."

—Kenan Aliyev
Current Time Features Editor

"As we consider these and other RFE/RL Current Time journalists part of the VOA family, our hearts go out to the families grieving the loss and to Lyubov’s family who are pulling for her recovery. This tragedy is truly devastating, but please know that our hearts and thoughts are with our colleagues and with all journalists around the world who take on difficult work to bring news and information to the world."

—Amanda Bennett
VOA Director

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Current Time sound engineer Maksim Gavrilenko, director Vladimir Mikhailovski, and documentary filmmaker Lyubov Zemtsova.