In Odesa, police detained journalists investigating separatist actions

On July 24, in Odesa journalists of the local First City TV channel Volodymyr Yuriev and Dmytro Dolmatov, who were filming in Bolgradsky rayon, were detained by police officers under the command of the head of the rayon precinct Volodymyr Bachur, their car was searched, and the journalists themselves were interrogated for several hours about the purpose of their visit and meetings with local residents.  

The journalists went in Bolgrad on an editorial assignment to check whether indeed the situation in the region is tense and there are separatist moods and actions, and how the local officials and law enforcement agencies are responding to this challenge, if they are. The journalists saw several Russian flags on the buildings and locals wearing the St’ George’s ribbon (the manifestation of alignment with Russia). In their conversations with local officials they learned that the town leaders don’t consider Russian flags anything to worry about.

 The filming crew was followed for a while and when they were detained they were told the police was looking for a bomb planted in their car – but no explosives specialists were involved. Then the journalists were advised to leave.