Violations of journalists' rights: 32 cases closed in Mykolaiv oblast

Photo by pl.npu.gov.ua

Mykolaiv oblast police closed 32 cases related to violations of journalists' rights (namely, obstruction and threats) over the past three years, writes Kateryna Sereda, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Mykolaiv oblast.

From February 24, 2022 to June 2025, Mykolaiv law enforcers registered four proceedings under journalism-related articles: "Obstruction of legal reporting" and "Threats or violence against a journalist."

According to the information provided by Mykolaiv Oblast National Police HQ in response to a query, one of the proceedings, which concerned journalists' access to the Mykolaiv City Council building, was closed, while others were in the pre-trial investigation stage.

The effectiveness of such investigations left much to be desired before the full-scale invasion, too. As of February 24, 2022, only five out of 33 proceedings under Article 171 ("Obstruction of legal reporting") reached the court, the remaining 28 being closed. Only four out of seven proceedings under Article 345-1 ("Threats or violence against a journalist") reached the court.

No proceedings under Articles 347-1, 348-1, and 349-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine were registered during both periods.