25 years without Georgiy Gongadze: Kyiv honours the memory of the journalist and all the deceased media workers

On 16 September 2025, the annual event dedicated to Georgiy Gongadze Remembrance Day took place at Kontraktova Square in Kyiv. This year marks exactly 25 years since the journalist, Founder of Ukrainska Pravda and public figure was kidnapped and murdered.

The event marked the opening of Gongadze Remembrance Week, during which a street exhibition titled “The Diary of Georgiy Gongadze” was presented on Kontraktova Square. It is a series of Georgiy’s iconic quotes, accompanied by explanations of the context and illustrations by Ukrainian artists Inha Levi and Anton Lohov. The full version of the event can be viewed on the Prize’s YouTube channel. The exhibition “The Diary of Georgiy Gongadze” can be viewed until 22 September in Kyiv at Kontraktova Square, in Lviv at Rynok Square, and in Odesa at the City Garden.

The event began with words of gratitude to all those who came to the memorial service, spoken by Georgiy’s wife, a member of the supervisory board of the Georgiy Gongadze Prize, a public figure, journalist, expert on international politics, member of the supervisory board of the Ukrainian Institute, senior advisor on Ukraine at the Institute for State Effectiveness, a think tank in Washington, Myroslava Gongadze.

She recalled how 25 years ago, a campaign called “Find journalist Gongadze, the authorities must be held accountable for their actions” took place on Independence Square: “25 years ago, not on this square, but on Independence Square, we started a campaign to find Georgiy. That was when Ukrainian society awoke, when large Ukrainian protests began, leading to more than one Ukrainian revolution… Ukrainian society is still fighting today. Because this struggle, this power of citizens, was born then in the pursuit of justice… And this pursuit of justice stirred and built a new Ukrainian reality“.

At the same time, Myroslava Gongadze emphasised that the demand for justice in Ukraine has not yet been satisfied, as there is no political will to see the case through to the end: “The last court hearing in the Gongadze case took place in 2021, and in July 2021, the last perpetrator of this horrific crime, General Pukach, who personally killed Georgiy with his own hands, was punished. Unfortunately, the organisers of this crime have not been punished, and it is unlikely that this will happen… There is no political will to see this case through to the end… But, in my opinion, Ukraine will be a just state when crimes are punished, when corruption ends, and when people who stand up for the truth feel their power“.

Photo: Myroslava and Solomiia Gongadze

Journalist and documentarian Ivan Liubysh-Kirdei, who won this year’s Georgiy Gongadze Prize, admitted in his speech that it was Gongadze’s story that confirmed his choice of profession: “When he was kidnapped, I had just enrolled in the journalism faculty. But it was he who convinced me that I was on the right path. I want to wish myself to reach the level that Georgiy was at with my actions and my life“.

Liubysh-Kirdei emphasised that journalism remains a dangerous profession in the context of Russian aggression, but even now it is a weapon in the fight for freedom: “Being a journalist is very dangerous right now, especially with a neighbour like Russia. But I am more than convinced that victory will be ours“.

Photo: Ivan Liubysh-Kirdei

The Head of the Supervisory Board of the Gongadze Prize, Tetiana Teren, noted that the tragedy that occurred 25 years ago became a starting point for changes in the country: “That terrible and tragic moment that occurred 25 years ago initiated a series of tectonic changes in our country. And at the beginning of these changes was Georgiy“.

She recalled that it was the prize initiative, together with the Human Rights Centre ZMINA and the Institute of Mass Information, that revived the annual commemorative events on 16 September.

“Despite the fact that the current generation of journalists may only know about Georgiy from textbooks, we have not stopped gathering. This testifies to the value of his figure and contribution to our profession and country“, Teren emphasised.

Photo: Tetiana Teren

The Editor-in-Chief of Ukrainska Pravda, Sevhil Musaieva, explained how a small project became one of the main platforms for Ukrainian journalism and why it is important to appreciate creators now, not just after a tragedy: “I would like to start by saying that the number 16 is also significant for me in this story, because it was on 16 April 2000 that Georgiy founded Ukrainska Pravda, and six months later he was kidnapped and then killed. I was 13 years old when it happened. Of course, I didn’t have the opportunity to know Georgiy personally, so as editor-in-chief, I had to piece together his portrait from fragments of memories of those who knew him. What struck me most was that literally the day before he was kidnapped, he said that he did not want to be a revolutionary, that he was a talented person who wanted to fulfil his potential in this country, that he wanted to live a normal life. But it so happened in his life that he became a revolutionary only after his physical journey had ended“.

Photo: Sevhil Musaieva

Sevhil called on everyone to remember all the media workers who have died, including those who died in the war, and to learn to appreciate today’s activists and journalists during their lifetime: “I dream that talented people in this country will have the opportunity to live the life that Georgiy dreamed of and wanted. That they will be able to fulfil their potential and be appreciated while they are still alive. Appreciate people while they are alive. Appreciate their talent, their passion, support them, don’t remain silent when they need help. This is also very important“.

Human rights defender and project manager at the Human Rights Centre ZMINA, Viktoriia Nesterenko, reminded that the memory of those who died is closely linked to the memory of those who are still in captivity: “Today, on such a memorable day for us, human rights defenders, this is an opportunity to remember those journalists who are still in captivity or are political prisoners. These include professional journalists, media representatives, and citizen journalists who were formed, in particular, in the occupied territory of Crimea and who, in essence, gave either their lives or their freedom for having the courage to continue working under occupation, documenting crimes against Ukrainian citizens committed by the Russian Federation“.

Photo: Viktoriia Nesterenko

The human rights defender noted that as of today, 26 journalists are in prison, having been illegally convicted on trumped-up charges of “terrorism, extremism”, or other serious crimes.

Viktoriia expressed her hope that all media workers would be released and appealed to those present to support the Kremlin’s political prisoners and their families: “I really hope that all journalists will be released. We are working hard on this; we are constantly reporting on the situation, especially on those political prisoners who are being held in terrible conditions in occupied Crimea and the newly occupied territories, and who have been deported to Russia to serve unlawful sentences. Therefore, I would like to call on everyone to support political prisoners, including journalists and their families, and to call on our authorities to advocate for their return“.

Anastasiia Abramets, Director of the Georgiy Gongadze Prize, spoke about the role of the Prize and the commemorative events marking the anniversary of his disappearance: “Friends, colleagues, partners, your presence here today means to us that journalists are united and stand in solidarity. And only by being united and showing solidarity can we stand together and continue on the path that Georgiy paid so dearly for. Thanks to your support and involvement, we can carry out the projects that the Prize implements and continue the work for which Georgiy gave his life”.

Photo: Anastasiia Abramets

The Director of the Institute of Mass Information, Oksana Romaniuk, recalled how, as a student, she first saw a campaign demanding the search for Gongadze: “In the lobby of UNIAN, where I asked to work, there were posters with a black silhouette and the inscription, ‘Where is journalist Gongadze?’. It made a huge impression on me“.

According to her, it was Gongadze who started the tradition of journalistic solidarity, which today keeps the professional community together even during the war: “Today we also remember our colleagues who died after 24 February 2022. A total of 110 of our colleagues. Twelve of them were killed by Russia for their professional activities. But despite all the challenges, Ukrainian journalism is powerful, energetic, and alive. And the foundation of this community is Georgiy“.

Photo: Tetiana Teren, Oksana Romaniuk, Myroslava Gongadze

Writer and human rights defender Larysa Denysenko reminded that the name of Ukraine’s second president, Leonid Kuchma, remains at the centre of public suspicion regarding possible involvement in the crime, yet Ukrainians have never received a definitive answer: “The organisers and instigators have not been punished. Public suspicion has focused and continues to focus on the then-president. This is a wound that will not heal until the truth is established and recognised at the state level“.

Ultimately, she stressed the importance of not only remembering but also taking action.

“We must continue the work of Georgiy and all our colleagues who were killed by Russia or who gave their lives for freedom. Memory is not just flowers and portraits, it is a responsibility to the profession and society,” Denysenko noted, adding that the Gongadze case is a reminder that without justice, it is impossible to build either a state governed by the rule of law or democracy: “We must not only honour the memory, but also demand justice. Otherwise, the consequences of impunity will be passed down from generation to generation”.

Photo: Larysa Denysenko

The Gongadze Remembrance Week will last until 22 September.

A series of meetings entitled “Professional Dialogues” will be held in various cities. In particular, a conversation with the Editor-in-Chief of Hromadske Radio, winner of the 2024 Prize Tetiana Troshchynska, will take place in Lviv, in Kyiv — meetings with Myroslava Gongadze (17 September, Kyiv-Mohyla Business School) and Editor-in-Chief of Kyiv Independent Olha Rudenko (19 September, Mariupol State University campus, conference room).

Also, during the week, a lesson of remembrance will be presented to schoolchildren, which will help the younger generation understand the story of Georgiy Gongadze and the dangers faced by journalists.

In addition, the Gongadze Prize team announced the creation of an online museum dedicated to the journalist, where his texts, materials, and memories of friends and colleagues will be collected. If you have anything to share or any ideas, please write to: gongadzeprize@gmail.com.

The detailed programme is available here.

The Remembrance Week has been implemented with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation and the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy.

Information partners of the event: PEN Ukraine, Ukrainska Pravda, the family of Georgiy Gongadze, Kyiv-Mohyla Business School, Institute of Mass Information, Channel 5, Suspilne, Radio Svoboda, Detector Media, the Human Rights Centre ZMINA, and Lviv Media Forum. As well as ZAXID.NET in Lviv and More Liudei, Most, and Intent in Odesa.

Organisational partners in Kyiv — Kyiv-Mohyla Business School, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Mariupol State University, National Memorial to the Heavenly Hundred Heroes — Museum of the Revolution of Dignity; Organisational partners in Lviv — Ukrainian Catholic University, UCU School of Journalism and Communications, Lviv City Council; Organisational partners in Odesa — NGO Vyshyvankovyi festyval and America House.

The Gongadze Prize was established in 2019 by PEN Ukraine, the family of Georgiy Gongadze, the publication Ukrainska Pravda, the Kyiv-Mohyla Business School, and its alumni.

The Gongadze Prize continues to exist and develop thanks to the support of patrons. Patrons are exclusively alumni of the Kyiv-Mohyla Business School who support the values of the Prize and strive to change Ukrainian society through high-quality professional journalism.