Alerts | Arrest/detention under other laws

Four journalists detained and offices searched in Melitopol

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Melitopolski Vedomosti editor-in-chief Yevhen Boryan and journalists Yulia Olkhovska, Lyubov Chaika were detained by Russian troops in Melitopol, along with publisher of MV Holding Mikhail Kumko. The four media workers were released later the same day on March 21. According to reports, the Russian troops demanded that they cooperate with them in their work and reporting. Anna Medvid, general director of MV Holding, also said that a week before the detentions the Russian military appeared at the office and searched the premises. They also demanded then that they cooperate with them, which she said she refused. According to the head of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine Sergiy Tomilenko the actions are aimed at pressuring local media into echoing the messaging of the Kremlin about the invasion and the role of the occupying forces. “It is obvious that these ‘morning visits’ to four Melitopol journalists are a direct signal of alarm and warnings for all journalists of Melitopol and Berdyansk, Kherson and other places that are temporarily occupied,” Tomilenko said.

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