Ukraine records 29 incidents with journalists, 18 with human rights defenders in two years – OHCHR

KYIV. Dec 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recorded 29 incidents with journalists and 18 incidents with human rights defenders, including attacks and intimidation, in Ukraine in 2020 and 2021, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine Matilda Bogner said.

"OHCHR has documented 29 incidents involving journalists, media professionals, bloggers and persons who criticize the authorities or the policies of the authorities. In 22 of these cases, the perpetrators used violence, while other cases included threats, incitement to violence, online defamation campaigns and willful damage to property," Bogner said at a conference in Kyiv on Wednesday.

The attacks recorded by OHCHR in 2020 and 2021 targeted primarily investigative journalists and media workers covering political topics such as corruption and COVID-19 restrictions, she said.

"In most cases, the perpetrators were not brought to justice, which contributed to a sense of impunity and subsequent attacks," Bogner said.

In addition, she noted that during the reporting period, OHCHR documented 14 incidents, including attacks, threats and intimidation, against 18 human rights defenders, including ten women and eight men, who work to protect women’s rights, gender equality, the rights of LGBT community, anti-corruption and environmental problems, especially in the regions.

"Only in one of these incidents did the authorities identify and prosecute the perpetrators," Bogner said.

OHCHR noted an increase in the safety of large LGBT gatherings in large cities. "At the same time, concerns remain about the safety of smaller gatherings and gatherings on other sensitive topics," Bogner said.

There were 21 recorded attacks on peaceful assemblies, most of which were organized by LGBT communities, women’s rights defenders and opposition political parties.

"Our office is concerned about the restrictions on the free expression of critical and unpopular opinions regarding participation in peaceful assemblies, sensitive topics and the safety of human rights defenders in Ukraine. During the reporting period, political and legislative changes in government-controlled territory resulted in restrictions on civil space," Bogner said.

According to her, the number of attacks against representatives of opposition political parties increased before the local elections in 2020 and after them, in January and February 2021, a wave of threats, intimidation, property damage and in one case of physical violence followed the entry into force of amendments to the law on the state language in the service sector. Bogner also said that government sanctions that led to the closure of TV channels and online media did not comply with international freedom of expression and limited public access to information, undermined critical journalism.

The second thematic report on civil space and fundamental freedoms covers the period from November 1, 2019 to October 31, 2021 in government-controlled territory, territory controlled by the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics and in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, which are currently occupied by Russia.