New head of police of Donetska oblast threatened journalists

According to the front-line journalist Natalia Nahorna, the newly-appointed head of police of Donetska oblast Vitaliy Nevhad told her that the filming crew of the TV channel «1+1» «had it coming» and that they «would not be able to do anything about it» in a private conversation after the journalists were beaten by police officers on a checkpoint near Mariyinka on July 6. Natalia Nahorna wrote about this on her Facebook page on Wednesday, after the appointment of Colonel Nevhad to the position of the head of police of Donetska oblast became known. Natalia said she received offers of help from the journalist NGOs and human rights advocates in the situation around the attack on the filming crew near Mariyinka. She said she wanted to wait for completion of the investigation of the incident. It was the then vice-head of police of Donetska oblast Vitaliy Nevhad that she talked to about the investigation of Donetska oblast police officers on her, her camera operator and their driver immediately after the day of the attack. «We had a private conversation and he said that we had it coming, we would not be able to do anything about it and that it was our fault. Nevhad’s behavior forced me to take this incident in the middle of the road out in the open”, the front-line journalist said. After this, the National police issued an apology to her. Natalia was also told this incident would impact his career. So, she commented on his appointment to the position of the head of the oblast police that he seems to be the first one punished for the crew’s beating, for illegal use of weapon, and abuse of powers.