The NJU noted the progress of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the development of mechanisms for responding to obstacles to journalistic activity
Today, November 2, the annual public hearings on the protection of journalists' rights, the fight against impunity and physical aggression against media workers took place.
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Mary Akopian said that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Police have a principled position on rapid response to all facts of threats or attacks on journalists. This is important because freedom of speech is the main criterion for the development of a democratic society.
The Deputy Minister stressed that the fight for journalists' rights requires joint efforts of law enforcement agencies, human rights and volunteer organizations, as well as international partners. After all, it is important for the police to receive feedback in protecting the rights of journalists.
“Often we are faced with a situation where journalists are not prepared to write statements or make complaints about the violations that are taking place. And this hampers the work of law enforcement agencies,” she stressed.
Mary Akopian noted that the last two cases of attacks on journalists, which occurred in Kiev and Odessa, once again proved that the police reaction to such offenses is instantaneous.
“The last two bright events: on October 4 in Kyiv, law enforcement officers opened criminal proceedings on the fact of obstructing journalistic activities with the use of physical force by the head of the bank. As part of the proceedings, three persons were informed of the suspicion, the bank employees were selected as a precautionary measure — house arrest. On the same day, criminal proceedings were also opened on the fact of causing bodily harm to journalists of Dumskaya TV,” the deputy minister stressed.
At the same time, addressing international partners, she stressed that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is fully open to cooperation: “We invite our international colleagues to contact the Department for the Protection of Human Rights on an ongoing basis.”
Chairman of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine Serhiy Tomilenko noted some progress of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in responding to obstacles to journalistic activity. This already gives certain results. Thus, the attack on journalists in Odessa in February this year was promptly investigated, and the verdict against the attackers has already taken effect.
“All working groups, meetings, hearings on the protection of journalists' rights are just a process. And the result should be the inevitability of punishment in each case of committing crimes against representatives of the journalistic profession. Only such inevitability will stop new attacks against media specialists,” Serhiy Tomilenko stressed.
First Deputy Head of the Main Investigative Department of the NPU Serhiy Panteleev noted that the Main Investigative Department of the NPU has prepared proposals for the draft law on amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine on strengthening the responsibility for committing criminal offenses against journalists. The bill has already been passed.
“Last year, an operational unit was created in the National Police, which is assigned to the disclosure of crimes committed against journalists. It is thanks to the creation of such a Department that we are already recording a 20% decrease in the number of crimes and misdemeanors of this category, compared to last year. The number of reported suspicions to persons suspected of crimes against journalists increased by 50%. That is, these cases will already be referred to the court,” Serhiy Panteleev said.
He noted that there is still something to work on. After all, only this year, the pre-trial investigation bodies of the NPU started criminal proceedings for 160 criminal offenses.
“Under Article 171 of the Criminal Code, 113 criminal offenses have been initiated, under Article 345-1 of the Criminal Code — 38 criminal proceedings have been initiated, under Article 347-7 — seven criminal offenses have been initiated,” he said.
Serhiy Panteleev added that the National Police also responds to crimes against journalists that take place in the occupied territory.
“Law enforcement officers must register crimes against journalists that take place in the occupied territory. They are being investigated. And even an algorithm for proving evidence and cases for extrajudicial conviction in relation to persons who committed crimes has been developed,” said the First Deputy Head of the Main Investigative Department of the NPU.
Recall that the case of the attack on “Schemes” in Ukreximbank was reclassified - the sanction of the article provides for up to 5 years.
Department of Communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
Photo by Andriy Novytskyi
