OSCE welcomes Supreme Court judgment in case of journalist Yefimov

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir issued a respective statement on March 7, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"I welcome the Supreme Court's ruling that the decision of the appellate court in Ihor Efimov's case should be dismissed and that the case is to be reviewed again," Desir said.

He called this a positive and important step, "which will hopefully pave the way to effectively combating impunity for crimes against journalists in Ukraine."

"Media workers must be able to report on public events in a free and safe manner, without fear of harassment and intimidation," Desir said.

He noted that the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine played an active role in highlighting and advocating for justice in the journalist's case, as well as in addressing the safety of journalists and impunity of crimes against them.

In its judgement of February 8, 2018, the Supreme Court noted that the appellate court's order, which upholds the lower court's decision to acquit a police officer suspected in the attack on Yefimov, was not based on criteria of legitimacy, justification, and motivation. According to the Supreme Court's judgment, the case must be reviewed by the appellate court again.

Yefimov was reportedly attacked by police officers, despite clearly identifying himself as a journalist, while fulfilling his professional activity in Cherkasy in central Ukraine, in February 2014. He received several serious injuries, including brain concussion and dislocation of the shoulder. 

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