"Visty Ananyivshchyny" chief editor beaten in Odesa oblast
Volodymyr Sedov, chief editor of the newspaper "Visty Ananyivshchyny" reports having been assaulted and beaten by unknown persons in Ananyiv, Odesa oblast, on July 12. The police has started an investigation into the attack.
As the journalist told the IMI representative in Odesa oblast, he believes the assault has to do with his professional work.
"I have been reporting for several years on a joint criminal group in the Ananyiv community. They maim people, burn grain trucks, rob, terrorize. They are the town government: former police officers and bandits. I did some journalistic investigations, inquired about the corruption in local government. They threatened me, warned me, and yesterday they attacked me," Volodymyr Sedov said.
According to him, his fingers were injured and he was diagnosed with a concussion. The journalist filed a statement with the police over obstruction of journalistic work.
The Odesa Oblast National Police have opened a case under Part 2 of Art. 345-1 (threat or violence against a journalist) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
According to the police, the incident happened on July 12 in the afternoon. "The editor-in-chief of a local newspaper contacted to the police with a statement about assault against him and physical maiming... The investigation is underway. The police are investigating the details of the event and the persons involved," the police said.
The article provides for restriction of freedom for up to five years or deprivation of freedom for the same term.
Pavlo Kolotvin, Kateryna Dyachuck
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