Investigative experiments and forensic tests in Ukraine have demonstrated the lack of any grounds for the conviction in Italy and the horrific 24-year sentence of Ukrainian National Guard soldier Vitaliy Markiv over the 2014 death of Italian photojournalist Andrea Rocchelli (and his Russian interpreter, Andrei Mironov) in war-torn Donbas. The results, presented at a press conference on 31 August, undermine the prosecution’s case and raise important questions about why fundamental investigative activities were not carried out and vital witnesses not questioned. It is frustrating that it took Ukraine’s Interior Ministry so long to undertake the work, as Markiv has now been in Italian custody for over three years, but the material has all been provided to the Italian court which is due to consider Markiv’s appeal against the sentence on 29 September.
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Halya Coynash: Vital evidence proves that Markiv is innocent of Italian journalist’s death
Activists hold a picture depicting Ukrainian soldier Vitaly Markiv as they shout "Free Markiv!" during a rally at the Italian embassy in Kyiv on July 12, 2019.
