Media Movement, journalists call for prompt investigation into attack on Yuriy Makarov
The Media Movement, Ukrainian journalists and media professionals call on law enforcement agencies to promptly and comprehensively investigate the attack on the prominent Ukrainian journalist and Suspilne Broadcasting executive producer Yuriy Makarov, to find the perpetrators and clearly identify the motives behind the attack on the journalist, as stated in the address by the Media Movement, to which the Institute of Mass Information is a signatory.
The media community does not rule out that the attack on Makarov might have to do with his reporting and his stance on the Russo–Ukrainian war.
The authors of the address also call on the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, to take the investigation into this attack under personal control and ensure that the public receives regular updates about the progress of the investigation.
“Attacks on journalists are unacceptable in a democratic society. Their investigation should be a priority for a state that declares commitment to the principles of freedom of speech and human rights,” the address says.
The Institute of Mass Information provides the address in full:
Address regarding the attack on Yuriy Makarov
We, Ukrainian journalists and media professionals, are extremely concerned by the attack on Yuriy Makarov, a prominent Ukrainian journalist, TV presenter, and executive producer of Suspilne Broadcasting. The attack occurred on the evening of April 16.
Yuriy Makarov was stabbed with a knife and has been hospitalized in serious condition. According to the information available, his life is not in danger as of now. We sincerely wish Yuriy a speedy and full recovery.
We demand that law enforcement agencies conduct a prompt and comprehensive investigation into this crime.
Yuriy Makarov is a prominent Ukrainian journalist, a well-known promoter of Ukrainian culture and language, the author of documentaries such as “Budapest. A Bomb for Independence” and “Waltzing With the System”, a participant in the documentary series “The Last War”, “The Collapse. How Ukrainians Destroyed the Empire of Evil”. We do not rule out that the attack on Makarov might have to do with his reporting and his stance on the Russo–Ukrainian war. We call on law enforcement agencies to promptly and comprehensively investigate this crime, to find the perpetrators and to clearly identify the motives behind the attack on the journalist.
We call on the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, to take personal control of the investigation into the attack and to ensure that the public receives regular updates about the progress of the investigation.
Attacks on journalists are unacceptable in a democratic society. Their investigation should be a priority for a state that declares commitment to the principles of freedom of speech and human rights.
For reference. The Media Movement is a community that brings together journalists from leading Ukrainian media, investigative journalists, and experts from media NGOs. Media Movement was launched on February 5, 2019.
The first signatories of the Media Movement Memorandum were UA: Pershyi, Ukrainian Radio, Hromadske Radio, Ukrinform, Interfax-Ukraine, Liga.net, Dzerkalo Tyzhnia. Ukraine”, NV, ‘Censor.net’, Channel 5, ‘Ukrainian Week’, Opinion, a number of regional media, NGOs Independent Media Council, Detector Media, Institute of Mass Information, Internews Ukraine, Center for Democracy and Rule of Law, Souspilnist Foundation, National Association of Media, Donetsk Institute of Information, Pylyp Orlyk Institute for Democracy, Zmina Human Rights Center.
The Movement was later joined by other organizations and individual journalists: more than 70 participants in total. On November 16, 2021, representatives of prominent media outlets called on journalists to unite in the professional community Media Movement to push back against political and commercial pressure on freedom of speech. The statement was initiated by 29 journalists and experts, their names are available here.
Media Movement
Institute of Mass Information
Suspilne Broadcasting
NGO Detector Media
Souspilnist Foundation
Pylyp Orlyk Institute of Democracy
ZMINA Center for Information on Human Rights
CEDEM
NGO Ukrainian Media and Communications Institute
NGO Women in the Media
NGO Institute of Regional Press Development
IMTUU
Previously
Yuriy Makarov, executive producer at Suspilne Broadcasting and a prominent journalist, was attacked and stabbed by an unknown man late on April 16.
Yuriy Makarov has been hospitalized in serious condition. As of now, there is no threat to his life.
The police later shared the details of the attack on Yuriy Makarov.
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