Freedom of Speech Committee initiates a hearing on investigations into crimes against journalists

The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech is preparing a hearing on the investigation of crimes related to preclusion to journalistic work.

The Committee's chairman Yaroslav Yurchyshyn said so during a conversation with representatives of the Commission on Journalistic Ethics.

According to him, they have already discussed the matter with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Police and the Prosecutor General's Office. The Committee is now waiting for 2023 data to inform the conversation.

"There was an almost 80% drop in investigations of crimes against journalists in 2022 compared to 2021. The war may explaineverything, but as a country that is entering the European community, which considers freedom of speech among its core values, we definitely should not allow this," he said.

In December, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn said that his work as the chair of the Freedom of Speech Committee has three priority vectors: releasing the Ukrainian journalists captured by Russia, investigating cases of preclusion to journalistic work, and creating competitive and high-quality access to information for journalists.

Speaking about the investigation into preclusions to journalists' work, Yurchyshyn said:

"As the fourth branch of power, journalists have very clear guarantees regarding their professional work. Since Ukraine is a developing democracy, the investigation of such cases has not always been smooth. And war is always a certain relief for the law enforcers, there is always something to do, we will be addressing your cases."