JournalismPakistan.com | Published July 12, 2017
Join our WhatsApp channelKIEV - Nearly a year after prominent journalist Pavel Sheremet was killed by a car bomb in Kiev, no one has been arrested, Ukraine has failed to produce evidence backing its claim of Russian involvement, and flaws in the investigation cast doubt on Ukraine’s ability to carry out an independent probe, the Committee to Protect Journalists found in a report released Wednesday.
The report - Justice Denied: Ukraine comes up empty in probe of Pavel Sheremet’s murder - finds that to restore confidence in the investigation, Ukraine should consider enlisting an independent international inquiry to ensure every motive is thoroughly examined.
“Pavel Sheremet was uncompromising in his journalistic career, which spanned three former Soviet bloc countries. He endured threats, harassment, attacks, and imprisonment, yet continued to report critically,” said CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova. “Sheremet believed in the need to fight for justice, to ask tough questions, and to look for answers. We are here today to honor his legacy by seeking justice in his killing.”
CPJ’s report examines the possible threats to Sheremet from his time reporting in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine; interviews colleagues and investigators about the murder probe; and traces Sheremet’s final months in Kiev, during which the journalist—whom CPJ honored with its International Press Freedom Award in 1998 - said he and his colleagues at Ukrainska Pravda were surveilled. The report also looks at the wider climate of hostility in the region at the time of Sheremet’s death, in which journalists were harassed and threatened amid increased tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
“The hostility toward journalists in Ukraine at the time of Pavel Sheremet’s murder and the journalist’s allegations of being surveilled in the months leading up to his death, must be taken seriously by the team leading the investigation,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “Nearly a year after Sheremet’s murder, Ukraine has produced no evidence backing its claim of Russian involvement. Authorities should enlist the aid of an international independent inquiry to restore confidence that ensure justice is achieved.”
The report was written by Christopher Miller, a Kiev-based freelance journalist and correspondent for the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. CPJ’s Ognianova wrote the introduction. The report includes recommendations to Ukrainian authorities, including President Petro Poroshenko, the international community, European Union, and the Council of Europe. – A CPJ press release
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 26, 2025: In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.
May 25, 2025: PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.
May 25, 2025: Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.