Key facts
- Ukrainska Pravda journalists Mykhailo Tkach and Yaroslav Bondarenko were arrested in Vienna on October 8.
- Tkach was held for 12 hours, and Bondarenko for 24 hours.
- The journalists were investigating the whereabouts of former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko.
- Vienna prosecutors stated the journalists were mistakenly identified as conspirators with two Ukrainian nationals suspected of espionage.
- The prosecutors claimed the arrests were justified by witness statements and surveillance conducted during the same period.
- Ukrainska Pravda alleges excessive force was used during the arrests, including smashing vehicle windows and restraining Tkach with a knee on his neck.
Ukrainian news outlet Ukrainska Pravda is calling for an independent investigation into the detention of two of its journalists in Vienna, alleging that Austrian law enforcement officers used excessive force and questioning the justification for their arrests. Investigative journalist Mykhailo Tkach and cameraman Yaroslav Bondarenko were arrested on October 8 while on assignment and held in custody for 12 and 24 hours, respectively. They described the arrest as "brutal" and said they were treated "like terrorists."
Tkach, known for his investigations into high-level corruption in Ukraine, alleged that the arrest could have been retaliation from subjects of his investigations who may have manipulated Austrian authorities. In a statement on October 12, editor-in-chief Sevgil Musayeva criticized the Vienna prosecutor's office for defending the officers' actions, arguing that the measures taken were unjustified and disproportionate.
Vienna prosecutors stated in an October 12 press release that the journalists were arrested because they were mistakenly believed to be conspirators with two Ukrainian nationals in pretrial detention on suspicion of espionage. This connection was allegedly based on witness statements claiming both groups were observed surveilling a property during the same period and in the same manner. The prosecutors maintained that the arrests were justified by the information available at the time and were unrelated to the journalists' professional activities, claiming their identities as journalists were not known at the time of arrest. However, Ukrainska Pravda's account of the arrest appears to contradict the claim that authorities were unaware of their profession, as both reporters were presented with accusations during questioning.
Musayeva questioned the verification of witness accounts and challenged the prosecutors' explanation regarding the journalists' identities, noting that their profession could have been quickly verified. She demanded explanations for the force used, the length of detention, and the seizure of equipment. Bondarenko recounted that officers smashed their vehicle's windows and forced him onto broken glass, requiring hospital treatment. Tkach described being dragged by masked officers and restrained with a knee on his neck despite identifying himself as a journalist. The journalists had been investigating the whereabouts of former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, who is believed to be in Vienna. Musayeva stated the outlet would pursue an independent investigation and seek compensation for damages. The International Press Institute has also expressed concern and called for clarification from Austrian authorities.