UDAR asking authorities to stop persecution of independent journalist from Brovary

The Kyiv regional organization of Vitali Klitschko's UDAR Party has called on the authorities of the town of Brovary (Kyiv region) to stop persecuting Andriy Kachor, an independent journalist and coordinator of the Nastup civil campaign.

The organizations' press service informed that a criminal case was opened against the journalist for a commentary on television regarding the alleged abuse of power by the chairman of the local organization of the Regions Party, Serhiy Fedorenko, who is also a local parliamentary candidate.

The police said that during the shooting of the video, Kachor "illegally broke into Fedorenko's office and thus caused damage to his property estimated at Hr 150." Meanwhile, all available video materials appear to contradict police claims.

The criminal case against the journalist was opened under Article 173 of the Code of Administrative Offences of Ukraine and he could be sentenced to 15 days or two months of correctional labor, according to the press service.

Kachor is famous in Brovary for his journalist investigations aimed at uncovering cases of abuse of power and serious infringements of the legislation by local officials during the election process, UDAR said, and added that the case is politically motivated.