In 2013, 101 cases of physical violence against journalists registered — IMI

The Institute of Mass Information drew some conclusions as to the status of freedom of speech in Ukraine. According to the data of the IMI Freedom of Press Barometer, in 2013, 101 cases of physical violence against journalists took place, of them 48 — in December (for comparison, during the entire year of 2012 IMI recorded 65 cases).

One in every ten journalists assaulted was a woman.

This year, 64 journalists were injured in assaults by police officers (for comparison, in 2012 there were only 8 such cases). Another category of attackers was private security guards or business owners (13 cases). The last category was titushkos (thugs hired covertly to do the authorities’ illegal bidding) — 9 cases.

Seventy journalists were attacked during mass events (protest rallies, filming at illegal construction sites, meetings and so on).

Most assaults took place in Kyiv (72 cases).

The worst months were July (10 assaults), November (11) and December (48).