20 April 2010, 12:32
At its extraordinary meeting, the Committee on Freedom of Speech and Information discussed the conflict connected with the fact that the law-enforcement bodies obstructed to the performance of professional duties of the journalists of Lviv "Ekspres" newspaper, in the result of which the journalists had to resort to an unprecedented measure, i.e. block Kyiv-Chop motorway.
The participants of the incident employees of "Ekspres" newspaper editorial office, representatives of the General Prosecution of Ukraine, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ombudsperson, and journalists attended the meeting.
The Deputies listened to the reports of the attendants and discussed possible legal settlement of the conflict. The representative of the General Prosecution of Ukraine stated that the prosecution bodies were clarifying the circumstances surrounding institution of criminal proceedings by Clause 171 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine "Obstruction to the Professional Activity of the Journalists".
It was ascertained that it was not the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, but the representatives of the tax police subordinate to the State Revenue Service of Ukraine who committed illegitimate actions towards the journalists of "Ekspres" newspaper.
The Committee members recommended that the Parliament set up a temporary inquiry panel to investigate the cases of obstruction to the legitimate activity of the journalists and restriction of freedom of speech in Ukraine.