Attack on Tkach: the accused received a suspended sentence, which can be appealed

Journalist Mykhailo Tkach and attackers. Photo: screenshot from the video

The Obukhiv District Court sentenced two defendants in the case of the attack on Ukrainian Pravda journalist Mykhailo Tkach while performing professional duties near the Tandyr restaurant in Kozyna. They were sentenced to 3 years of probation with the possibility of appealing the sentence.

Source: press service of the Obukhov district court

Details: It is reported that the court established that the journalist of “Ukrainian Pravda” Mykhailo Tkach arrived on the territory of the “Tandyr” restaurant on November 17, 2023 to shoot video material during a journalistic investigation in accordance with the editorial task.

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Around 11:29 p.m., visitors began to leave the restaurant, after which Tkach got out of the car and, being in the open area of ​​the area – the restaurant’s parking lot, i.e. in the public area, guided by the provisions of Art. 5, 7, 24, 25 of the Law “On Information”, began openly filming on a digital video camera according to the editorial task.

At that time, two defendants (Khomyak and Oliynyk – according to the UP), blocked the passage, closed the video camera and by other active actions prevented Tkach from videotaping people leaving the restaurant premises, did not allow him to move closer to the exit from the restaurant, “as a result that exerted influence on the journalist in order to prevent him from fulfilling his professional duties”.

Literally: “The court found both defendants guilty of committing the crime provided for in part 1 of article 28, part 2 of article 171 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, namely, in the commission of intentional actions, which were expressed in influencing the journalist in any form with the aim of hindering the execution of professional duties committed by a group of persons without prior conspiracy.

The court took into account the persons of the accused, who have not been convicted before, the absence of mitigating and aggravating circumstances, the opinions of the parties to the criminal proceedings, and imposed a sentence of three years’ imprisonment with a two-year probationary period.

The verdict has not entered into force and can be appealed in the courts of appeal and cassation instances.”

Prehistory:

• Late in the evening of November 17, 2023, UP journalist Mykhailo Tkach was attacked while filming near the Tandyr restaurant in the village of Kozyn, Kyiv region.
• After the publication of the Criminal Procedure Code on the attack on journalist Mykhailo Tkach, the police of the Kyiv region started criminal proceedings under the article on obstructing the legitimate professional activities of journalists.