SBU officers in Mykolayiv region detain journalist for several hours, seize his phone

The Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine (IMTUU) calls on the Security Service of Ukraine to conduct an internal investigation against the officers who detained journalist, coordinator of the “Under control” movement and editor of the NikVesti website Oleh Dereniuha in Mykolayiv.

The statement by the IMTUU reads that on August 24 spokesperson for the SBU department in Mykolayiv region Mykola Vilkul invited the journalist, and during the meeting informed the journalist that from his telephone a call was made with a message about mining the Soborna Square in Mykolayiv region and the criminal proceedings were initiated over this fact.

“The journalist was being interrogated for four hours without a lawyer. His telephone was seized for examination. All the above mentioned arguments are signs of violation of the rights of journalists, so we appeal to the Security Service of Ukraine with the requirement to conduct a proper internal investigation into the abuse of power by persons who detained the journalist on August 24,” the statement reads.

The IMTUU pays attention to the flagrant violation of the procedural law, according to which the temporary access to the belongings and documents is provided only on the basis of the decision of the investigating judge, as well as violation of Part 2 of Article 168 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine, which stipulates that the temporary withdrawal of electronic information systems or their parts, mobile terminals, communication systems for the study of the physical properties relevant to the criminal proceedings is possible only under clear order in the judgment.

The organization also calls on the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine to ensure due procedural control and give proper legal assessment of the actions of the law enforcement bodies.

The IMTUU asks the Commissioner for Human Rights to take steps to prevent similar violations of the rights and freedoms of journalists, and asks the Council on Freedom of Expression and Protection of Journalists’ Professional Activity at the President of Ukraine to consider the incident of violations of journalist’s rights, to take appropriate measures and to prevent oppression of the freedom of speech.

The organization calls on the chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Expression and Information to take appropriate measures to prevent such violations of the rights and freedoms of journalists.