Minister Federica Mogherini met today with the family and colleagues of Andy Rocchelli, the photo-reporter killed in Ukraine on 24 May along with his interpreter and guide Andrei Mironov, at Cenura Lab, the photo-journalism collective that Rochelli helped found in Pianello Val Pidone (Piacenza).
It was an opportunity to see Rochelli’s work and to assure his family and colleagues of the attention Italian institutions reserve for the protection of media staff in theatres of war and the government’s commitment to investigating this incident: “We are insisting with Ukraine on the fact that an inquest that has been opened with the Kiev authorities on the death of Andy Rochelli goes forward”.
“We are well aware that in situations of civil conflict such as that of eastern Ukraine, it is the conflict that is the first to blame, but we also believe that it is essential to insist on clarity”. Finally, the minister confirmed having “received assurances of this just yesterday speaking with the Ukrainian foreign minister; I will be seeing him on Monday in Luxembourg and we will continue to press on this request. The inquest has been opened and is going forward”.
