Institute of Mass Information (IMI)

Vyacheslav Veremyi’s death is a tragic outcome of the social unrest that has overtaken Ukraine since November 2013, when citizens began demonstrating against President Viktor Yanukovych’s decision not to sign EU trade agreements.

Since 21 November – the beginning of mass protests in Ukraine – 136 journalists have been injured according to data collected by the Institute of Mass Information and presented in two infographics.

Described by local civil society groups as the “legal establishment of dictatorship,” Law 3879 cracks down on protests, access to information and digital rights.

Oleksiy Grytsenko, the activist whom journalist Tetiana Chornovol called on the night she was beaten, informed Hromadske TV that on December 24 Tetiana went to take photos of the mansions of the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor General.

IFEX members are calling on the president of Romania to veto proposed changes to the penal code passed by Parliament that would recriminalise insult and libel.

IFEX members strongly condemn recent attacks on journalists during public demonstrations in Kyiv and call for those responsible to be held accountable.

Media workers in Ukraine have been injured by rocks, flash grenades and gas pellets in their attempt to cover mass demonstrations against the reversal of President Viktor Yanukovych’s decision to sign trade agreements with the EU.

Over the last month, at least five reporters in Ukraine have been attacked in apparent connection to their work, while scores of activists have been detained.