OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir has condemned an attack on Vadym Makaryuk, a cameraman for the Kharkiv-based Visti news service and TV Channel 24, and called on the Ukrainian authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident.
“I condemn the attack and beating of Vadym Makaryuk, and urge the authorities to do their utmost to bring the perpetrators of this attack swiftly to justice,” Désir said, the OSCE press service reported.
“Targeting and attacking journalists because of their work is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated,” he said.
On June 7, Makaryuk was attacked with tear gas and beaten by unidentified men while filming a business-related dispute in the Barabashove marketplace in Kharkiv. Donbas war veterans and members of the National Corps were also involved in the incident. Nine persons, including Makaryuk, sought medical assistance. He received serious head injuries and was hospitalized with cerebral haemorrhage.
The police opened criminal proceedings under Part 1 of Article 293 (violation of public order by a group of persons) and Article 125 (intentional slight bodily injury) and Part 1 of Article 279 (blocking of transport communications) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The attack on Makaryuk was qualified under three articles of the Criminal Code: Part 2 of Article 345-1 (threat or violence against a journalist), Part 1 of Article 171 (obstruction of the lawful professional activities of journalists) and Part 2 of Article 187 (assault).
