Universal Jurisdiction Mapping of Cases in France
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Ukraine

Pierre Z. (victim)

Type of liability
Personne physique

Alleged perpetrator(s)
X

Nationality of alleged perpetrator(s)
n/a

Legal classification of crime(s)
War crimes

Source of the complaint
Public Prosecutor's Office

Ongoing proceedings
oui

Regime
4 - 113 CP

Summary of facts

The French-Irish journalist for the American media outlet FoxNews, Pierre Z., was killed in Ukraine on March 14, 2022, while covering the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. The Ukrainian producer Oleksandra K., who was accompanying him, was also killed.

Amnesty International France recalls that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law.

Legal proceedings

<p>March 16, 2022: <span class="Y2IQFc" lang="fr">a preliminary investigation was opened by the PNAT (National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office), in which 17 family members and the NGO Reporters sans frontières took part. A joint investigation team was set up between France, Ireland and Ukraine.<br />
April 5, 2024: the PNAT referred the matter to the senior investigating judge of the Paris Judicial Court, requesting the opening of a judicial investigation for war crimes.<br />
</span><span class="Y2IQFc" lang="fr">On April 17, 2024, the PNAT announced the opening of a judicial investigation into the death of Pierre Z. </span><span class="Y2IQFc" lang="fr"><br />
</span></p>

Complaint

non

Legal basis for jurisdiction (article)

113-7 PC

Sources

Franceinfo, "Guerre en Ukraine : une enquête ouverte en France après la mort du journaliste franco-irlandais Pierre Zakrzewski", 2022

Franceinfo, "Guerre en Ukraine : l'enquête sur la mort du journaliste franco-irlandais Pierre Zakrzewski confiée à des juges d'instruction", 2024

Libération, Une information judiciaire ouverte sur la mort de Pierre Zakrzewski, journaliste franco-irlandais tué en Ukraine", 2024

RSF, "Mort du journaliste franco-irlandais Pierre Zakrzewski au début de la guerre en Ukraine : sa famille et RSF saluent l’ouverture d’une information judiciaire pour crimes de guerre", 2024