EU, U.S. Press Ukraine Over Disappearance Of Journalist

Vasyl Klymentyev

The European Union and the United States today pressed Ukraine over the disappearance of Ukrainian journalist Vasyl Klymentyev.

Klymentyev, editor in chief of the "Noviy Stil" newspaper, went missing on August 11 and is now presumed dead, though no body has been found.

An EU statement released today called on Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich to give "personal attention" to the case, while the U.S. statement urged the Ukrainian government to protect a free press in order to fight corruption.

Both statements came out of a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna.

The OSCE is to send a human rights representative to Ukraine next month to gather information on media freedom.

-- Reuters