You're reading: OSCE says two Ukrainian journalists abducted in Donetsk Oblast

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic has expressed her concern about the abduction of two Ukrainian journalists in Donetsk region.

The statement was published on the OSCE Web site on Saturday, June 28.

Mijatovic noted cases of abduction in Donetsk region of Borys Yuzhik, the editor of Druzhkovskiy Rabochii newspaper, on 28 June, and Sehiy Dolhov, the editor of Mariupol’s Vestnik Priazovya newspaper on 18 June.

“Dolhov was allegedly beaten and detained by the Ukrainian Security Service,” reads the report.

Also on 26 June, the editorial office of ProGorod newspaper in Torez in Donetsk region was attacked. The perpetrators destroyed and seized all equipment, and threatened journalists.

“I call on the Ukrainian authorities to swiftly and thoroughly investigate these attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Mijatovic said.

The OSCE representative has expressed her concern about the fact that on 26 June the self-proclaimed authorities issued a ‘decree’ demanding all media outlets to register with the “ministry of information and mass communication” within ten days. The absence of such registration would reportedly lead to banning of the media activities. The ‘decree’ also extends to online resources, including individual bloggers, and covers distributors of print media.

“I condemn the steps forcing media outlets to register and to report in favor of the illegal armed groups,” Mijatovic said. “Censored reporting under the threat of harassment and intimidation gravely violates freedom of the media and is unacceptable.”