Council of Europe keeps track of investigation into attack on Ukrinform’s press center

“On 30 July 2019, about a dozen men dressed in T-shirts with the inscription "Tradition and Order" broke into the press center of the Ukrinform news agency in Kyiv during a press conference of parliamentary candidates. They damaged the door to the press-hall and damaged the equipment and furniture. They pushed and hit Ukrinform staff members,” reads the report entitled “Brutal Attack on the Ukrainian National News Agency Ukrinform” which was published on the Council of Europe’s Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists.

As noted, two media workers of Ukrinform’s technical department and the head of the press center were injured.

The Council of Europe's to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists is a public space aimed at protecting journalists, providing a better response to threats and incidents of violence against media professionals and creating an early warning and response mechanism within the Council of Europe.

As reported, on July 30, young men dressed in T-shirts with the inscription "Tradition and Order" broke into the press center of the Ukrainian National News Agency Ukrinform, which hosted a press conference on parliamentary elections at district No. 50 in Donbas. They broke the door down, damaged a costly conference room sound system and pulled out five microphones.

Three Ukrinform employees were injured in the attack. One victim sustained an eye injury and numerous bruises.

Kyiv police opened criminal proceedings under Article 125 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (intended light bodily injury).