Ukraine’s media community demands Austria investigate police’s conduct while detaining UP reporters

Ukrainian news organisations and civil society organisations, including Human Rights Centre ZMINA are demanding that the Austrian authorities urgently, transparently, and independently investigate the detention of Ukrainska Pravda journalist Mykhailo Tkach and cameraman Yaroslav Bondarenko in Vienna on 8 October.

The media community released the corresponding statement on 9 October in response to the events that occurred as the journalists were carrying out an editorial assignment. As was reported, Mykhailo Tkach was held in custody for more than 12 hours, while cameraman Yaroslav Bondarenko was injured during the detention and ended up in hospital. Media professionals stress that following up on a police report does not justify excessive use of force, intimidation, or the confiscation of communication devices without due process.

STATEMENT

Ukrainian media organisations, civil society organisations, and the Media Movement demand the brutal detention of two Ukrainian journalists in Austria be investigated and the use of force against them be explained.

We are deeply outraged by the detention of Ukrainska Pravda reporters Mykhailo Tkach and Yaroslav Bondarenko in Vienna; we demand Austrian authorities investigate the actions of the police immediately, transparently, and independently.

The Ukrainian journalists were detained while carrying out an editorial assignment in Vienna on 8 October. As Ukrainska Pravda has reported, Mykhailo Tkach remained in custody for over 12 hours and was released as late as 4 a.m. on 9 October. Cameraman Yaroslav Bondarenko was injured during the detention and was hospitalised. He was only interrogated overnight. No public explanation of the legal grounds for treating the reporters this way has been given.

Forcefully detaining reporters for over 12 hours, resulting in an injury, and confiscating their communication devices are extremely serious acts that call for convincing legal explanations, not formal excuses.

We acknowledge the right of law enforcement bodies to follow up on reports of possible offenses. However, each interference with the work of journalists must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate.

Journalists carrying out an investigation into a public official does not in and of itself justify intimidation, arbitrary detention or obstruction of reporting.

The confiscation of the communication devices is particularly alarming. Investigative journalists need these not just for work, but potentially for storing sensitive material and data about their sources. Accessing these data without a court warrant or independent procedural guarantees may constitute a serious infringement of press freedom.

Austria is a European democracy obligated to guarantee freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. These guarantees apply to foreign journalists legally carrying out their work in the country.

We demand that the Austrian authorities:

1. Immediately disclose the legal grounds for the detention of both journalists and their procedural status, and explain why keeping them in custody for over 12 hours was necessary.
2. Independently investigate whether the use of force against the journalists was lawful and proportionate, establish the details of Yaroslav Bondarenko’s injury, and hold the perpetrators accountable if violations are revealed.
3. Immediately restore the confiscated equipment and communication devices to the journalists and ensure the confidential reporting-related information is protected.
4. Grant both journalists full access to legal assistance, necessary medical aid, and all procedural guarantees stipulated by the law.
5. Provide the Ukrainian side and the public with an official explanation regarding the incident.

We call on Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue the consular oversight of the case until all details are made clear and the violated rights of the journalists are restored.

We are also addressing international press freedom organisations, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, and the relevant Council of Europe institutions with a call to follow the case attentively.

Ukrainian journalists already face extreme threats while working due to Russia’s aggression. It is unacceptable for them to face disproportionate use of force and frivolous infringement of their rights while reporting in democratic European countries.

A journalist being released does not cancel out the questions regarding the legal grounds for their detention, and no police report warrants excessive use of force.

We expect the Austrian government to not only provide explanations, but also take tangible action to uncover the truth, ensure accountability, and prevent similar incidents in the future.

Media Movement

Institute of Mass Information

Centre for Public Investigations

Euromaidan Press

NGO Detector Media

Natalia Lyhachova

The Ukrainians Media

ZMINA Human Rights Centre

Liudmyla Pankratova

NGO ProMedia

Souspilnist Foundation

Rubryka Solutions Media

Skhidnyi Variant

Hromadske Radio

Georgiy Gongadze Prize

Darka Hirna

Dmytro Tuzov, Radio NV host

Oksana Romaniuk, IMI

Tetiana Bezruk

NGO Ukraïner

The Kyiv Independent 

NGO Lviv Media Forum

NGO Institute of Regional Press Development

EMPR.media