OSCE media freedom representative calls for release of arrested photojournalist in Russia

VIENNA, 26 September 2013 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed concern about the arrest of photojournalist Denis Sinyakov in Russia and called for his release.

“It is worrisome that Sinyakov was arrested while performing his professional duties as a photojournalist”, Mijatović wrote in a letter today to Alexander Bastrykin, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation.

According to media reports, Sinyakov was detained on 18 September while covering the Greenpeace action at Gazprom’s Prirazlomnaya platform in the Barents Sea. On 26 September, a Murmansk district court placed Sinyakov under arrest for two months on charges of piracy brought by the Investigative Committee in the North West Federal District.

“I strongly believe the arrest charges should be dropped and Sinyakov should be set free immediately,” Mijatović said.

Sinyakov is a contributor to various international and Russian media outlets, including Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Kommersant Publishing House and Lenta.ru news portal.