Famed Italian journalist Sandro Ruotolo, along with activists and everyday citizens, gathered in Valletta to mark 700 days since journalist  Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated by a car bomb outside her home.

The vigil comes just 10 days before the deadline of a Council of Europe-ordered public inquiry into her murder expires.

A bill of indictment has been issued against the three men charged with carrying out the assassination. However, the masterminds behind the murder remain very much at large.

Ruotolo, who has had to live with a police escort for a total of 1596 days due to his investigative work, spoke of the importance of journalists as the fourth pillar of democracy.

“When a journalist dies, a whole chunk of democracy dies,”  he said.

Also speaking were the brothers of two murdered Italian journalists and activists, who each outlined how vital it was to preserve freedom of expression, something which was echoed by other speakers.

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