Poland police return confiscated equipment to Rayon.in.ua journalists

"Rayon.in.ua" journalists received the equipment that had been seized from them by the Polish police back in March in Braniewo. Journalist Yuriy Konkevych and cameraman Oleksandr Piliuk received their personal phones and a laptop by mail, Yuriy Konkevych reports to the Institute of Mass Information representative in Volyn oblast.

"Last week, we were notified that the second batch of the items seized by the Braniewo police on March 6–8 would be returned to us. We were prepared that this would happen sooner or later, because during the correspondence and talks between the lawyers and the police we were told that they would return some of the things in the spring, and then later the gadgets – our smartphones and my laptop. They explained that the still needed to run 'additional checks' on those. So the 'checks' lasted for over half a year," Yuriy Konkevych said.

The package from Poland with the Rayon.in.ua journalists' belongings. Photos by Nataliya Pakhaychuk shared with the IMI representative

According to him, other things, including the camera, were returned back in the spring. Yuriy Konkevych says that the police released them on the evening of March 8, in compliance with the decision of the district prosecutor, which states that they had "no complaints" against us.

The journalist added that the deportation appeal is currently being considered. The media outlet is collecting UAH 66,000 to pay for a lawyer in Poland.

"The first sum was covered thanks to the help from an international organization, now 'Rayon's' readers and friends have covered half of the sum we need," he said.

According to the journalist, the date of the trial is still unknown.

The journalists' smartphones returned. Photos by Nataliya Pakhaychuk shared with the IMI representative

The two Ukrainian journalists, Yuriy Konkevych and Oleksandr Pilyuk, were deported from Poland on March 7, 2024, for filming on the Poland–Russia border. The media professionals were investigating the flow of cargo across the border. The Polish police seized the corporate laptop, two telephones, three microphones, headphones, lighting equipment and other personal belongings of the journalists.

After the detention of the Rayon.in.ua journalists, the Polish prosecutors opened a case for possible data collection and transfer to foreign intelligence services, which could harm the Republic of Poland. This refers to the photos and videos of civilian critical infrastructure made by the citizens of Ukraine in Braniewo near the Poland–Russia border.

The journalists' laptop returned. Photos by Nataliya Pakhaychuk shared with the IMI representative