20:10 21.05.2013

Freedom House urges Ukraine to investigate attack on journalists, bring attackers to justice

3 min read

Freedom House has said it is alarmed by the violent attack on journalists covering an opposition demonstration in Kyiv on May 18 and has called on the authorities to conduct a full investigation and bring the attackers to justice.

"Any further delay in investigating the attackers, at least some of whom are apparently known to the authorities, is an abandonment of the authorities' responsibility to ensure the safe and unhindered work of journalists, and contributes to impunity of those who attack them," reads an organization statement on its Web site.

Freedom House is also concerned about the fact that reports in the media indicate that numerous police officers in the area stood by as the journalists were attacked and pleading for assistance, allowing the attackers to flee and intervening only after the journalists had been seriously injured.

"The authorities were reportedly refusing calls to look into the attack until a demonstration was held in Kyiv today by approximately 150 journalists, demanding an investigation. Despite the plans announced for an investigation, there is no sign that authorities are moving swiftly or decisively against the alleged attackers, some of whom have been publicly identified in videos of the attack," reads the statement.

As reported, a conflict erupted between representatives of the opposition and a group of unidentified men on Velyka Zhytomyrska Street in Kyiv at about 1420 on May 18, which later turned into a brawl. The young men began throwing water bottles and stones.

Several people, including Channel 5 journalist Olha Snitsarchuk and Kommersant photographer Vladyslav Sodel, were injured in the incident.

The scuffle took place during the opposition's Rise Up, Ukraine! campaign (on Sofiyska Square) and a Party of Regions rally (on European Square). The incident occurred outside the building of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's office in Kyiv.

On May 20, it was reported that the leadership of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's main office in Kyiv had ordered an internal investigation regarding the inaction of law enforcement officers during the incident on Velyka Zhytomyrska Street on May 18.

On May 21, the media liaisons office of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry reported that a suspect in the beating of journalists had been detained.

In addition, Interior Minister of Ukraine Vitaliy Zakharchenko said that the police have reclassified the investigation into the May 18 incident from "causing minor injuries" of Part 1, Article 121 to "hooliganism" of Part 2, Article 296 of the Criminal Code.

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