The court has sided with freelance journalist Diana Lavryk, who was bodily injured while reporting on a conflict triggered by the St. Nicholas Church parish in Verkhni Stanivtsi village (Chernivtsi oblast) switching from the Moscow Patriarchate to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and agreed to reclassify the case “attack on a journalist” isntead of “hooliganism”.
Lavryk reported this to the regional Institute of Mass Information representative Alyona Chorna. The Chernivtsi oblast police confirmed the news in response to a query by IMI.
“We inform you that the investigation department of the Vyzhnytsia district police department of the Chernivtsi Oblast National Police HQ is conducting a pre-trial investigation in proceedings regarding a criminal offense under Part 2 of Article 345-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (“Threats or violence against a journalist” – Ed.), with freelance journalist Diana Lavryk being the victim,” the response states.
In the comment to the IMI representative, Diana Lavryk said that she had immediately filed a statement about assault and obstruction of lawful reporting and later had the injuries recorded: bruised legs, scraped knees, neck and head injuries. Lavryk had to undergo a medical examination, MRI and treatment, which she paid for. Despite the media worker having been attacked while reporting, the police initially opened proceedings under the article on “Intended minor bodily injury”. The case was only reclassified as Part 2 of Art. 345-1 after she sued.
“I could not agree with such a decision and accept this injustice! This is not the “hooliganism” article. I was performing my professional duties, working as a journalist, and stated this clearly. The refusal to change the classification did not break me, but gave me strength to fight for my rights. And not just for my own rights, but also those of other journalists who may find themselves in a similar situation and should know their rights,” said Diana Lavryk.
She added that the reclassification became possible thanks to the support by her colleagues and everyone who was not afraid to give this story traction.
“I know that there is still a lot of work ahead, and the support from the journalist community and people who care will be crucial to ensure something like this does not happen to others and does not happen again,” the journalist concludes.
Previously
Following the attack on the journalist, the police opened a case under Part 1 of Article 125 (“Intended minor bodily injury”) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Lavryk disagreed with this decision and filed a motion to the Vyzhnytsia District Prosecutor’s Office and the Vyzhnytsia District Police Department Chief to reclassify it as Part 2 of Article 345-1 instead. However, her petition was declined. Later, the journalist sued at the Vyzhnytsia District Court of Chernivtsi oblast.