UOC MP supporters in Bukovyna attack journalist for filming parish joining OCU

Diana Lavryk, photo by NTK TV

Independent journalist Diana Lavryk was injured while covering the conflict around the St. Nicholas Church in Verkhni Stanivtsi village (Chernivtsi oblast) switching from the Moscow Patriarchate to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine on April 8, report the Kolomyia city and district newspaper Vilnyu Holos and NTK TV.

Diana says she had been invited by the parishioners and the parson, Roman Hryshchuk, to film the first liturgy of the new OCU parish in the church. However, the event ended in a mass brawl as they were attacked by UOC MP supporters. The journalist was assaulted despite having clearly stated that she was a reporter performing her professional duty.

“When we, together with the priests and parishioners, entered the church, the attackers approached, armed with batons and pepper sprays. Threats rained down on us. Stones and sand were being flunged at us, angry people were beating us with sticks. I stood to the side, recording the events on video, and said clearly and distinctly that I was a journalist. I was hit, pulled by the hair… Someone picked me up and dragged me into the church to save me from the angry crowd,” she told Vilnyi Holos.

However, the journalist continued, the attackers fired gas from fire extinguishers into the church and when she and others were exiting the church, “they beat us fiercely, they pulled me aside by the hair, beat me, tore off my journalist ID, they wanted to take away my equipment…” Later, the people were evacuated from the church.

“They beat everyone until we left the church premises. As soon as the police arrived, within 15 minutes, they took a statement from me… To record the injuries, I would have to come back there, to Verkhni Stanivtsi, the following day. I won’t go, I’m afraid for my life…” the journalist said.

Father Roman Hryshchuk, archpriest, chaplain of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, said that Diana Lavryk was targeted deliberately and purposefully: the attackers threw stones at her and beat her with batons.

“Her shouting, 'I am a journalist!' only added to the fury. We rescued her, huddled against the church wall, and two other boys, from the massacre, dragged her inside the church,” he added.

The journalist filed a statement with the police and the investigation is underway. Diana also had to seek medical help.

Diana Lavryk is a contributor to the newspaper Vilnyi Holos. Born in Lviv oblast, she now temporarily lives in Kolomyia and is a member of the Kolomyia branch of the National Union of Journalists. She reports on topical subjects, most recently – on parishes switching from the UOC MP to the OCU.