The death of 32-year-old French journalist Arman Soldin during rocket fire in Ukraine has caused a lot of commotion. France is now even launching a war crimes investigation into the case.
The National Public Prosecutor’s Office for Counterterrorism announced on Wednesday evening that the Central Office for Combating Crimes against Humanity and Hate Crimes is conducting the investigation. It is intended to clarify the exact circumstances of Soldin’s death.
Crime scene must be visited
According to investigative circles, the investigative authority is currently assembling a team to investigate the crime scene in Ukraine. On Tuesday, Soldin came under Russian missile fire on the outskirts of Chasiv Yar near the town of Bakhmut, which had been fighting for months. The 32-year-old was fatally hit, his colleagues were unharmed.
On Wednesday, the journalist was commemorated in the French Senate with a minute of silence. “He died because he believed that nothing should stop the obligation to provide information,” said French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who stressed the importance of journalism and the free press “for our citizens and for our democracy”.
Journalist in Ukraine since day one
Since the first day of the Russian invasion, Soldin had been reporting from Ukraine—often directly from the front. He had voluntarily joined the first AFP reporter team sent to the country the day after the war began. Since September he has lived permanently in Ukraine, coordinates the work of the video journalists and regularly travels to the front in eastern and southern Ukraine.
Soldin has been working as a journalist for AFP since 2015, first as an intern in the Rome office before moving to London. He spoke fluent English, French and Italian. Born in Sarajevo, Soldin also held French citizenship.
Source: Krone
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