27 cases for crimes against journalists opened in the first 5 months of 2023

In January–May 2023, the police registered 27 cases for crimes committed against mass media representatives. Of those, two indictments were investigated and submitted to court.

This according to the response given by the Prosecutor General's Office on June 19 to IMI's request regarding the situation with investigating crimes against journalists in the period between January 1 and May 30, 2023.

Out of the total number of registered cases, 20 were opened under Article 171 ("Obstruction of the legal professional work of journalists") of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, seven of those being closed. The only two cases that were submitted to the court with an indictment were registered under Art. 171 of the Criminal Code. No decision has been made in 11 cases.

Seven other cases were classified under Article 345-1 ("Threats or violence against a journalist").

In the past five months IMI documented 31 violations of journalists' rights for which the Ukrainian side is responsible.

As IMI reported, in 2022 the number of violations of journalists' rights investigated by the police dropped by 85% compared to 2021. In 2022, law enforcers investigated and brought to court four cases under the "journalist articles" of the Criminal Code, while in 2021 there were 27 such cases.

In 2021, the number of investigations into violations of journalists' rights grew by 69% compared to 2020. In 2021, the police investigated and brought to court 27 cases under the "journalist articles" of the Criminal Code.

In 2020, the police registered 249 cases regarding crimes against mass media representatives. Of these, 16 indictments were investigated and submitted to court.

In 2019, 259 cases over crimes targeting media workers were registered. Of them, 14 indictments were submitted to court.

In 2018, there were 287 registered proceedings regarding crimes against journalists. Of these, 22 cases were referred to the court.

In 2017, 290 cases for crimes targeting journalists were registered. Of them, 23 cases were brought to court.

In 2016, 31 indictments regarding crimes against mass media workers were submitted to court, including the cases opened in the years prior.