The Main Enemy is Haste. Can Journalists Replace Investigators? Anna Vyshniakova and Gyunduz Mamedov on the Role of Journalists in Documenting War Crimes

In the context of Russia’s armed aggression, journalists and analysts from civil society organizations are often the first to document evidence of war crimes. But what happens when these facts are made public before law enforcement has had a chance to respond? Could the premature publication of materials from the scene jeopardize ongoing investigations? And most importantly — how can effective coordination be established between journalistic investigations and official criminal proceedings?

In their joint article for ZN.UA, Anna Vyshniakova, head of the NGO LingvaLexa and expert in international criminal law, and Gyunduz Mamedov, former Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine, explore the delicate balance between the right to information and the duty to ensure justice. The authors highlight the critical need for harmonized approaches to the collection, verification, and preservation of evidence, as well as the challenges that arise from the lack of coordination among the media, investigators, and civil society actors.

Full article available at: The Main Enemy is Haste