Dozens of Ukrainian journalists have been staging a rally today outside the interior ministry in Kiev after the police initially refused to investigate the beating of two journalists.
Olha Snitsarchuk, a journalist with the Channel 5 television channel and her husband Vladislav Sodel, a photographer with the Kommersant daily, were punched and kicked by a group of men on Saturday while covering a political demonstration opposed to the government. It is believed their attackers were pro-government supporters.
Sodel told the rally that several policemen ignored his original pleas to intervene, watching indifferently as the reporters were thrown to the ground and hit.
Snitsarchuk, who suffered bruises to her face, was taken to hospital.
After a public backlash, the interior ministry agreed to launch an investigation.
Sources: Associated Prees via Boston Globe/Ukrainian Journal
