The Press: How Russia destroyed Media Freedom in Crimea

This book tells us about how Russia fought against journalists and freedom of speech during the occupation of Crimea and thereafter. Yuriy Lukanov, a journalist who covered these events, describes not only his own impressions, but also presents us many interviews he conducted with journalists who worked in Crimea at that time. The book shows how Russia systematically fought against free press and free reporting—from simple restriction of access to information to physical beatings and criminal prosecution of journalist. The volume is illustrated with photos by the author and his colleagues Yuriy Lukanov is a freelance journalist living in Kyiv, Ukraine. His articles were published in Kyiv Post, Radio Liberty, Financial Times, UPI, The Atlantic Council, Ukrainska Pravda, LB.ua, Gazeta.ua, Moskovskie Novosti, Texty.org.ua, Novynarnia. So far, he published the books (in Ukrainian) “The Third President: A Political Portrait of Leonid Kuchma” (Taki spravy, 1997), “Extravaganza of Travels. Travel Notes after a Trip over Six European Countries”, and several books with political epigrams. His war prose “Reporter Volkovsky” was translated into English and published in the US. “The book makes an important contribution to documenting the start of the annexation and another proof that in any war, the media are the first to be attacked.” Dunja Mijatovic, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (2010 - 2017) “This book documents how in 2014, when Russia occupied and illegally annexed Crimea, the suppression of journalism was one of their first and immediate priorities. It is a text-book case study of oppression written often as if in real time. Journalism as eyewitness to history. ” Frane Maroevic, Executive Director, International Press Institute “Since Lukanov himself was in Crimea during the days when the peninsula was captured by Russian troops, his personal observations let the reader immerse in a disturbing atmosphere, in which a carelessly spoken word could cost a journalist life or freedom.” Rephat Chubarov, Head of Crimean Tatar People Majlis