TI Ukraine Joins Ukrainian Media and Civil Society Organizations’ Statement on the Detention of Mykhailo Tkach and Yaroslav Bondarenko in Austria

Together, we call on the Austrian authorities to conduct an urgent, transparent, and independent investigation into why journalist Mykhailo Tkach and camera operator Yaroslav Bondarenko were detained in Vienna on October 8.

We are convinced that investigative anti-corruption journalism is an important part of the fight against corruption in Ukraine. Only through the joint efforts of the public, the media, and anti-corruption bodies can our country overcome corruption.

That is why we support the joint statement issued by the media community on October 9 in response to the events that occurred while the journalists were on an editorial assignment. We jointly emphasize that a law enforcement check cannot justify excessive force, intimidation, or the seizure of communication devices without procedural safeguards. Independent journalism is the foundation of a healthy democratic society.

STATEMENT

Ukrainian media organisations, civil society organisations, and the Media Movement demand the brutal detention of two Ukrainian journalists in Austria be investigated and the use of force against them be explained.

We are deeply outraged by the detention of Ukrainska Pravda reporters Mykhailo Tkach and Yaroslav Bondarenko in Vienna; we demand Austrian authorities investigate the actions of the police immediately, transparently, and independently.

The Ukrainian journalists were detained while carrying out an editorial assignment in Vienna on 8 October. As Ukrainska Pravda has reported, Mykhailo Tkach remained in custody for over 12 hours and was released as late as 4 a.m. on 9 October. Cameraman Yaroslav Bondarenko was injured during the detention and was hospitalised. He was only interrogated overnight. No public explanation of the legal grounds for treating the reporters this way has been given.

Forcefully detaining reporters for over 12 hours, resulting in an injury, and confiscating their communication devices are extremely serious acts that call for convincing legal explanations, not formal excuses.

We acknowledge the right of law enforcement bodies to follow up on reports of possible offenses. However, each interference with the work of journalists must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate.

Journalists carrying out an investigation into a public official does not in and of itself justify intimidation, arbitrary detention or obstruction of reporting.

The confiscation of the communication devices is particularly alarming. Investigative journalists need these not just for work, but potentially for storing sensitive material and data about their sources. Accessing these data without a court warrant or independent procedural guarantees may constitute a serious infringement of press freedom.

Austria is a European democracy obligated to guarantee freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. These guarantees apply to foreign journalists legally carrying out their work in the country.

We demand that the Austrian authorities:

1. Immediately disclose the legal grounds for the detention of both journalists and their procedural status, and explain why keeping them in custody for over 12 hours was necessary.
2. Independently investigate whether the use of force against the journalists was lawful and proportionate, establish the details of Yaroslav Bondarenko’s injury, and hold the perpetrators accountable if violations are revealed.
3. Immediately restore the confiscated equipment and communication devices to the journalists and ensure the confidential reporting-related information is protected.
4. Grant both journalists full access to legal assistance, necessary medical aid, and all procedural guarantees stipulated by the law.
5. Provide the Ukrainian side and the public with an official explanation regarding the incident.

We call on Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue the consular oversight of the case until all details are made clear and the violated rights of the journalists are restored.

We are also addressing international press freedom organisations, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, and the relevant Council of Europe institutions with a call to follow the case attentively.

Ukrainian journalists already face extreme threats while working due to Russia’s aggression. It is unacceptable for them to face disproportionate use of force and frivolous infringement of their rights while reporting in democratic European countries.

A journalist being released does not cancel out the questions regarding the legal grounds for their detention, and no police report warrants excessive use of force.

We expect the Austrian government to not only provide explanations, but also take tangible action to uncover the truth, ensure accountability, and prevent similar incidents in the future.