MEDIA LAW INSTITUTE
STATEMENT
on severe beating of journalist Tetyana Chornovol
Media Law Institute expresses its indignation at severe beating ofjournalist and Euromaidan activist Tetyana Chornovol that happened on the 25thof December, 2013. Unknown persons intercepted journalist’s car andwhen she tried to escape, beat her severely and left at the road. As a result,Tetyana Chornovol got into resuscitation.
Tetyana Chornovol is famous by her journalist investigations that concern corruption in top echelons of power, specifically by investigation about “Mezhygirya”residence, hunting areas “Sykholuchya”, Crimea residences, gas schemes andRussia pressure. The last publication, published several hours before theattack, considers estate in the Pidgirtsy village that the journalist connectswith Minister of Internal Affairs – Vitaliy Zakharchenko.
The task of legal authorities is not only in prompt and effective detectioncommitted crimes, but also in making appropriatemeasures for their prevention. Absence of concrete results in cases of assaultedstudents and journalists, new brutal attempts, frightening and pressure, severebeating of Tetyana Chornovol confirm disability of Ministry of Internal Affairsand Minister Zakharchenko, personally, to execute their duties. We consider that Ministerof Internal Affairs Zakharchenko has to resign immediately, as he is not ableto provide public order in the State. We are convinced that wholeresponsibility for beating of journalist Tetyana Chornovol lies upon the statepower.