Each head of the regional police department bears personal responsibility for the disclosure and investigation of crimes against journalists, - Igor Klymenko
The issues of protection of journalists' professional activity and freedom of speech were discussed today, March 11, during a video sector meeting with the participation of the Head of the National Police of Ukraine and the heads of the GUNP in the regions.
According to Igor Klymenko, the investigation and disclosure of crimes against journalists is under the constant control of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Head of the National Police of Ukraine and international organizations.
“We need to talk to the media. Find time, at least once a quarter, to meet with journalists. I want to emphasize the personal responsibility of each head of the National Police of Ukraine for the disclosure and investigation of such crimes,” Ihor Klymenko stressed. In turn, Deputy Head of the National Police of Ukraine - Head of the Main Investigative Department Maxim Tsutskiridze spoke about the state and features of the investigation of criminal proceedings of this direction
of nature.
“Today we have 211 criminal proceedings for violation of journalists' rights. The head of the National Police of Ukraine has set a number of emphasis tasks for regional police chiefs to uncover and investigate these crimes and establish communication with representatives of the media community on the ground,” Maksym Tsuckiridze noted. At the same time, the police often record the facts of obstruction of journalistic activity and qualifications fixes them according to the articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - obstruction of legal professional activities, threats against journalists, damage to journalists' property (video cameras of other equipment).
The Deputy Head of the National Police noted that police officers do not always correctly qualify the circumstances and events that happen to journalists.
“There are a number of special articles that investigators do not always skillfully apply, and therefore classify crimes against journalists according to articles that are distributed as crimes of the whole investigation nominal orientation. Since the beginning of the year, we have registered 34 criminal proceedings for violation of journalists' rights. And we will demand from the police a result in the investigation of such crimes,” said Maxim Tsuckiridze.
Department of Communications of the National Police of Ukraine
