In Poltava, journalist complained of threats and obstruction to work

Poltava web-based edition “Ostanniy Bastion” reported its journalist Albina Kolomiets was threatened of being raped and was prevented to work by Serhiy Cherednichenko, head of Socialist Party in the Poltava region. The main directorate of the National police in Poltava region confirmed the report about the incident, which took place on July 12. The editorial board accused Serhiy Cherednichenko of assault against the TV crew of "Ostanniy Bastion". Journalists approached politician to ask him to comment on his public activity, as to edition reported, and "immediately, he had an aggressive attitude, and used foul language. Then the words were followed by actions." "Cherednichenko grabbed the microphone and aimed it at me. I was forced to run away a few meters, "- said journalist Albina Kolomiets. Then Cherednichenko began to threaten the operator and threw the microphone, damaging him, and insulted the journalist. "Albina Kolomiets admitted that while filming one of the stories, Cherednichenko, together with her party members, threatened her with rape," the edition reported. "The Poltava city police department has registered the complaint regarding this incident from a journalist, complaints of microphone damage and threats of rape. The incident occurred in the court where they considered the litigation of Serhiy Cherednichenko and Hennadiy Sikalov (editor-in-chief of "Ostanniy Bastion" - ed.). The police was called by Sikalov, " as Yuri Sulaev, the spokesman for the National police in Poltava region, said. The criminal proceedings was opened under Part 1 of Article 171 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (obstruction to journalistic activity), as Sulayev told. IMI informed earlier, on May 18, 2018 in Poltava in the office of the regional branch of the Socialist Party of Ukraine the journalist for "Tribuna" portal, host of the video project "ShoUNas" (What about?)Yaroslav Zhuravel was beaten up. The head of the regional branch of the SPU, Serhiy Cherednichenko, said that the journalist deliberately provoked his associates. On August 13, 2018, the Poltava regional office of public prosecutor reported that two men who beat and drove the journalist "Tribune" Yaroslav Zhuravel out by force of the office of the Poltava branch of the SPU party were served with charges. On September 13, 2018, the Kyiv regional district court of Poltava held the first hearing into the case of beating of the journalist Yaroslav Zhuravlya. The court hearings are still on.