Statement on the release of RFE/RL journalists
The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) enthusiastically welcomes the release of Stanislav Aseyev and Oleh Halaziuk, both Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Ukrainian Service contributors held captive by Russia-backed separatists since 2017. Their release was part of a prisoner exchange between Ukrainian authorities and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
“The news of Stanislav and Oleh’s release is heartening and long overdue. USAGM thanks governments, non-governmental organizations, and advocacy groups who kept their cases in the spotlight,” said USAGM CEO Grant Turner. “Their capture was an unjustified attack on press freedom and meant to punish brave journalists for reporting on the situation in eastern Ukraine. We all must continue to stand against actions that target reporters, and we must ensure that future generations of truth-tellers are free from intimidation.”
