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| Russia committed 155 crimes against media in Ukraine in 2024 - IMI |
| 2025-01-14 |
| Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [Korrespondent] Crimes against media and journalists committed by Russia, IMI experts recorded in 17 regions of Ukraine. In particular, as a result of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine in 2024, according to IMI, 24 media workers died, two of them while performing journalistic activities and 22 as participants in military operations. The number of cases of violations of freedom of speech in Ukraine in 2024 increased to 268, of which 155 crimes were committed by the Russian Federation as a result of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This is evidenced by the annual results of the monitoring study of the Institute of Mass Information (IMI) "Barometer of Freedom of Speech". In 2023, IMI recorded 150 violations of freedom of speech in Ukraine, 67 of which were committed by the Russian Federation as a result of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, 567 violations of freedom of speech were recorded in Ukraine, of which more than 80% (470 crimes) were committed by the Russian Federation. At the same time, in 2024, IMI experts recorded 113 violations of freedom of speech for which the Ukrainian side is responsible. This number is more than in 2023, when IMI recorded 83 violations of freedom of speech. In 2022, there were 97 violations, in 2021 - 197, in 2020 - 229 cases. The main categories of violations for which Ukrainian citizens are responsible in 2024 were: cyberattacks – 23 (in 2023 – 11 cases); obstruction of legitimate journalistic activity – 21 (in 2023 – 29 cases); indirect pressure – 19 (in 2023 – 3); restriction of access to public information – 18 (in 2023 – 20). In general, in 2024, the journalists’ right to practice their profession was most often violated by private individuals, local governments, law enforcement officers, central and executive authorities, the judiciary, etc. Violations were recorded in 22 regions of Ukraine, with Kyiv leading the way with 39 cases recorded. "The most high-profile cases of the year were, in particular: cases of persecution of investigative journalists - Bigus.Info, Slidstvo.Info ; censorship in Ukrinform ; attempts to throw Suspilne out of the single telethon," the IMI emphasized. As a result of the Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2024, according to the organization, 24 media workers were killed (in 2023 - 27), two of them while performing journalistic activities and 22 as participants in military operations. In total, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine, the occupiers have killed 95 media workers, 12 of them while performing professional journalistic activities. In addition, in 2024, at least 15 journalists from foreign and Ukrainian media were injured as a result of Russian shelling, in 2023 there were at least 10 such cases. In 2024, Russian shelling destroyed or damaged eight media outlets. Five journalists were publicly known to have been kidnapped by Russians. Other Russian crimes recorded on Ukrainian territory in 2024 include the kidnapping and wounding of journalists, threats and intimidation of journalists, damage to media outlets, attacks on TV towers, cybercrimes, shutdown of Ukrainian channels, and legal pressure. IMI also recorded three waves (in October, November, and December) of anonymous threats to mine a number of editorial offices and institutions in different regions of Ukraine in 2024. Russian hackers hacked Ukrainian TV channels and launched their propaganda on them, and attacked websites of both national and regional media. Crimes against the media and journalists committed by Russia were recorded by IMI experts in 17 regions of Ukraine. In addition, IMI added, Ukrainian media continue to close as a result of the financial crisis and staff shortages caused by full-scale Russian aggression. Let us recall that the Bihus.Info publication stated that it had identified those who carried out the operation to install hidden cameras in hotel rooms where the publication's editorial office was located on December 27, 2023. This was done thanks to video from the security cameras of the recreation complex. The SBU reported that they made certain personnel decisions in the department for the protection of the national state after the scandal with the surveillance of Bihus.Info journalists. |
| Posted by:badanov |