In Mykolayiv, unidentified men attacked journalist in Oblast State Administration and demanded that he deleted photos and audio recording

On June 4, two unidentified men forced the journalist of the online media outlet Novosti-N Oleksander Vlashchenko to delete all photos and an audio recording he made during the meeting of the Mykolayiv oblast governor Mykola Romanchuk with representatives of big business, where they discussed the strategy of supporting Mykolayiv military. According to Novosti-N, Vlashchenko left before the meeting was over but was followed from the meeting hall by two men. These men approached him and demanded he told them why he came to the meeting, checked his ID, and insisted that he deleted all his photos and audio recording from the meeting. As the journalist refused to do so, they brought him to the press secretary’s office. On the way there, the journalist met both the governor and the vice-governor and asked them to interfere but they refused. When the journalist got out his phone to call the editor the men took his phone away and threatened him with physical violence. They also refused to tell him their names and what organization they were from. The press secretary did not interfere either. Vlashchenko’s photos and audio recordings were deleted.