The European Commission has called on the Ukrainian authorities to investigate the case of a violent attack on journalists during rallies in Kyiv on May 18.

"We did not see sufficient follow up action on the identification of the perpetrators by the responsible law enforcement agencies. We call therefore on the Ukrainian authorities to promptly and effectively investigate the allegations of the use of violence, including against journalists. The perpetrators of the violence must be brought to justice to avoid there being a feeling of impunity of those participating in such acts," Peter Stano, the spokesman of European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule, told Interfax-Ukraine, while commenting on the commission's position on the incident.

According to Stano, Brussels "was following with concern the incidents between participants in rallies in Kyiv over the weekend."

"On this occasion, the reports of violence against journalists are cause for alarm. We regret that the police failed to protect the rights to peaceful assembly," he said.

Stano noted that the European Commission "will continue to pay attention to the need of ensuring safe and unhindered manifestation of freedom of assembly and media freedom rights."

"In light of our dialogue with the authorities, we stress the importance of adopting improved legislation on freedom of assembly in line with the European standards," he said.

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.