Media Union expresses concern over Internet snooping on OstroV

The Kyiv Independent Media Trade Union has issued a statement expressing deep concern over the attempt by the Donetsk police to receive access to information stored on the servers of the Internet publication OstroV.  Such access has not been authorized by the court and was without the journalists being informed.

As reported, the provider approached by the police has confirmed to OstroV that the approach took place, explaining that they received a letter on 9 June saying that the access was needed in connection with a criminal investigation.  OstroV journalists have been unable to find out who the criminal investigation is in connection with.

The media union stresses that according to Ukraine’s legislation, a person facing a criminal investigation must be informed of this. None of the OstroV journalists have received such notification.

“The OstroV site is the product solely of journalists’ own activities and therefore the KIMTU views the actions of the people as an attempt to obstruct the professional activities of journalists,   a demonstration of the trend towards a reduction of freedom of speech in Ukraine”.

“The KIMU demands that the President Viktor Yanukovych put a stop to pressure on journalists known for their objective attitude to the government via the law enforcement bodies. With no faith in the law enforcement agencies, should the authorities not act over harassment of journalists, the KIMU reserves the right to draw the attention of the international community to this case and other instances where freedom of speech and journalists’ rights are impinged in Ukraine. We also research the right to turn to international court organizations to defend legitimate rights and freedoms of members of our trade union and other journalists in Ukraine”, the Head of KIMU Yury Lukanov states.

Institute for Mass Information on information from the KIMU