February 13, 2017

13/02/2017: UKRAINE – SEEMO ALARMED AFTER ATTACK ON JOURNALIST’S SAFETY

Vienna, 13/02/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed deep concern after the vehicle of journalist Sergey Goos was torched by unknown perpetrators.

In the night between 11 and 12 February, Goos’ car was set on fire in the courtyard of the building where he lives in the city of Kamianske, located in the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine.

According to the journalist and the journalistic union in the country, this was a warning sign to those who speak truth and are critical of the establishment in Ukraine. Goos is the editor-in-chief of a local newspaper and former President of the Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine (IMTUU). He also stated that he had “no doubt” his car was torched because of the paper’s professional and truthful work.

“We harshly condemn this attempt at intimidation” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said this morning. “Not only is this a gruesome threat and sign of intolerance, it also shows us, once again, how dire the media situation in Ukraine currently is. We call on authorities to launch a transparent and prompt investigation, and uncover the perpetrators of this crime” Vujovic added.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe.