MFA contacts Austria over Tkach’s detention: consul gets access to journalist

The Embassy of Ukraine in Austria has requested explanations from the Austrian side regarding the detention of Ukrainska Pravda journalist Mykhailo Tkach in Vienna. The Ukrainian consul was later able to access him and has spoken with him, writes Ukrainska Pravda, citing Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi.

“We have received reports of Mykhailo Tkach’s detention. The Embassy of Ukraine in Austria has already approached the Austrian side with a request to explain the circumstances of this detention,” Tykhyi said.

He said the Ukrainian consul had formally requested access to the detained Ukrainian citizen.

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The consul was later granted access to Tkach and was able to speak with him. Austrian police continue to hold the journalist in custody.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine remarked that the ministry, the Consular Service Department, and the embassy in Austria are keeping the situation under control.

Ukrainska Pravda senior investigator Mykhailo Tkach was detained in Vienna, Austria, on 8 October while carrying out an editorial assignment; the whereabouts of his colleague Yaroslav Bondarenko is unclear. The team considers the detention unlawful and demands his immediate release and an official explanation of the Austrian police’s actions.