Mykhailo Tkach, journalist and senior investigator at Ukrainska Pravda, has been released following his detention in Vienna, Austria, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported to hromadske.
“We have just received confirmation from the Austrian side that Mykhailo Tkach has been released. Ukrainian diplomats and consuls at the Ukrainian Embassy in Austria had been working with their Austrian counterparts since yesterday evening to resolve this situation. We are grateful to the Austrian diplomats for their appropriate response,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
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The Ministry is still working to establish whether cameraman Yaroslav Bondarenko, who was detained together with Tkach, has been released.
“Defending the rights of Ukrainian citizens is an unconditional priority. The MFA, the Consular Service Department, and the Embassy are keeping the situation under control and remain in dialogue with the Austrian Foreign Ministry,” the agency added.
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.
The Embassy of Ukraine in Austria requested explanations from the Austrian side regarding the detention of Ukrainska Pravda journalist Mykhailo Tkach in Vienna. The Ukrainian consul was later granted access to him and spoke with him.
