UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has welcomed instructions by the Prime Minister of Greece for authorities to investigate the shooting of journalist Giorgos Karaivaz in Athens on 9 April.
I condemn the murder of Giorgos Karaivaz in Greece. Using guns to silence journalists constitutes a blatant attack on the fundamental human right of freedom of expression and on the right to access information. I welcome the authorities commitment to bringing those responsible for this affront to Greek democracy and rule of law to justice.
Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General
Karaivaz was shot by two unidentified gunmen as he was returning home from work. The journalist was a crime reporter for private broadcaster Star TV, a contributor to the newspaper Eleftheros Typos and the founder of news website bloko.gr.
UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity building and a range of actions, notably in the framework of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
- See also: UNESCO observatory of killed journalists
