Only three cases on impediment to journalists have been sent to court in eight months - prosecutor general's data

For January-August of 2015, the General Prosecutor's office registered in Ukraine 81 criminal offences as described in Article 171 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (obstruction to lawful professional journalist activities). Three cases were sent to court. This is the General Prosecutor's office's response to IMI's request.

Another 58 criminal offices are being investigated, with exception of those closed based on clauses 1, 2, 4, 6, part 1, Article 284 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Notification on suspicion has been served upon 7 individuals. The number of journalists who were victims of the crimes during the period is 91.

As IMI informed, in eight months of this year IMI registered 224 facts of journalist rights' violations.

In the first half of this year, 54 criminal offices were registered under article 171, and 3 cases were sent to court.