16 “journalists’ cases” brought to court in 2020

In 2020, the law enforcers registered 249 criminal proceedings into crimes committed against media professionals. Of these, 16 charges were investigated and brought to the court.

Such are the figures provided by the Office of the Prosecutor General on January 16 in reply to IMI’s request for information about progress of investigation within of crimes against journalists in 2020.

In particular, the proceedings which have been referred to court last year included:

-10 criminal proceedings under Article 171 of the Criminal Code (“Obstruction of the lawful professional activity of journalists”);

-five criminal proceedings under Article 345-1 (“Threat or violence against a journalist”);

-one criminal proceeding under Article 347-1 (“Intentional destruction or damage to a journalist’s property”).

Of the total number of registered criminal proceedings, 192 were registered under Art. 171 (“Obstruction of lawful professional activity of journalists”) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, of which 128 were closed.

54 criminal proceedings - under Article 345-1 (“Threat or violence against a journalist”) of the Criminal Code, of which 17 were dropped.

Law enforcement agencies also registered three criminal proceedings under Article 347-1 (“Intentional destruction or damage to a journalist’s property”).

In 88 criminal proceedings, no decision was made by the end of the reporting period.

As IMI reported, according to the GPU Office, in 2019, 259 criminal proceedings were registered for crimes committed against media workers. Of these, 14 criminal proceedings for crimes committed against journalists were brought to court. 

As IMI reported, in 2018, the law enforcement bodies brought to court 22 criminal cases concerning crimes committed against the journalists.

In 2017, the law enforcement bodies brought to court 23 criminal cases over crimes committed against the media professionals.

In 2016, the law enforcement agencies have sent to court 31 indictments for crimes against journalists.

In 2015, 11 criminal proceedings under Article 171 of the Criminal Code were brought to court.

IMI recorded 243 cases of freedom of speech violations in Ukraine in 2019.

In 2020, the IMI experts 229 cases of violations of freedom of speech were recorded by IMI experts in Ukraine (as of December 28 ). Of these, 171 cases involved physical aggression against journalists.