It was with great sadness that Media Defence heard of the death of its former trustee, the journalist, Olexiy Solohubenko.
Born and educated in Ukraine, Olexiy began his broadcasting career at Radio Kiev. In 1992 he joined the BBC World Service, helping to set up and establish the Ukrainian Service, which he led from 1996 to 2003. He later moved into senior management at the World Service, taking on the role of Executive Editor for Eurasia, before becoming the Executive Editor for the Americas and Europe Region. He held an MPhil in Government and Media Studies from Manchester University.
Olexiy joined Media Defence as a trustee in October 2014. Astute and knowledgeable, Olexiy was very involved as a trustee and brought to the board a great deal of insight into the former Soviet Union. In 2017, Olexiy stepped down from his role as trustee on grounds of ill health. Media Defence remains grateful to him for his contribution to our work, and will continue to remember his commitment to defending journalists around the world.
Media Defence expresses its heartfelt condolences to his family, colleagues, and many friends.
Recent News
We’re Hiring: Capacity Building Manager
Location Hybrid / London Expectation to work one day in the office. Salary: £42,000 – £52,000 Contract: Permanent, full-time Hours: 37.5 Responsible to CEO Key relationships: CEO, Development and Programmes Director, Finance and Operations Director, Finance and Compliance Officer, Grants Officers, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learnings Officer, Legal Team, Events Coordinator and Team Assistant, funded partners, […]
Former Colombian Intelligence Director Convicted for Torture of Journalist Claudia Duque
Leer en español On August 24th, José Miguel Narváez was convicted for the aggravated and prolonged psychological torture of journalist Claudia Julieta Duque. Narváez was the Deputy Director of the now disbanded Colombian secret police, the Administrative Department of Security (DAS), who subjected Duque to over two decades of relentless persecution. The verdict delivered by […]
Ex director de inteligencia colombiano condenado por torturar a la periodista Claudia Duque
Read in English El 24 de agosto, José Miguel Narváez fue condenado por tortura psicológica agravada y prolongada de la periodista Claudia Julieta Duque. Narváez llegó a ser subdirector de la ahora disuelta policía secreta colombiana, el Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad (DAS), que sometió a Duque a casi una década de implacable persecución. La sentencia […]