Ukraine: Security Point Guns at Journalist Alyona Bereza and Other Press After Denying Access to Administration Hall

The Coalition For Women In Journalism empathizes with Ukraine during the ongoing war, but under no circumstance does it justify pointing a gun at journalists

Location: Ukraine, Khmelnytsky
Date: August 28, 2023

Alyona Bereza and her crew from media outlet ZHAR.INFO were prevented from entering the regional administration hall in Khmelnytsky, western Ukraine. The situation escalated when security pointed weapons at reporters. The Coalition For Women In Journalism understands the intricacies of governing during wartime but is sincerely alarmed by the blatant aggression against journalists. We call on the administration to respect journalists’ right to report. 

On August 28, the regional administration hall security personnel in Khmelnytsky pointed guns at journalist Alyona Bereza and crew from ZHAR.INFO after denying their entry. The journalists attempted to obtain comments from Serhiy Tyurin, the first deputy head of the Khmelnytsky Oblast Military Administration, regarding aid for residents affected by Russian shelling in Hruzevytsya.

“My cameraman and I decided to go straight to the administration to get an explanation of what is really happening and why we are being ignored," says Bereza, who sought comment through the administration's press office for over a week.

Bereza has previously been targeted because of her investigative reporting into corruption in Khmelnytsky. 

Following the incident, the media outlet contacted the police and filed a complaint regarding the obstruction of journalistic work. The police responded swiftly, accepting their statement, but due to security officers being members of the National Guard, the case was transferred to the State Bureau of Investigation.

Despite their efforts, the journalists have been unsuccessful in obtaining comments from the administration. They also noted that no police officer contacted them regarding the incident.

Ukraine is grappling with balancing freedom of the press and battling Russian disinformation since the invasion. New regulations include stringent limitations on journalists' entry to frontline regions and an increased emphasis on state-run broadcasting, exemplified by the United News Marathon, a continuous 24/7 news program accessible on most major TV networks. 

Roman Holovenko, a lawyer from the Institute of Mass Information (IMI), says journalists have the right to visit the premises of entities in positions of authority freely. However, he clarified that officials are not obligated to provide comments, as it is their right to choose not to do so.

 “Armed forces and law enforcement agencies should maintain a reasonable balance between security and defense measures and the public’s right to receive verified information from professional media,” the Commission on Journalistic Ethics said in a report released last year. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism understands that military administrators and officers in Ukraine are under immense pressure trying to defend the country from Russian armed forces. However, this does not justify pointing weapons at journalists trying to obtain comments for reporting that is in the public’s interest. The media crew exhausted all ways possible to get a comment from Serhiy Tyurin, and they were continuously ignored, leading to them visiting the hall.

We call on the regional administration hall in Khmelnytsky to respond to Alyona Bereza’s request for comment as soon as possible and urge police to investigate the intimidation of journalists by security guards.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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