Over 200 freedom of speech violations recorded in Ukraine in 2020

28.12.2020 17:16

Ukrinform

Experts of the Institute of Mass Information recorded 229 cases of violations of freedom of speech in Ukraine during 2020 (as of December 28), of which 171 cases related to physical aggression against journalists.

These are the annual results of the IMI monitoring study "Freedom of Speech Barometer", Ukrinform reports with reference to the Institute's website.

For comparison: a total of 243 cases of violations of freedom of speech were recorded in 2019. Of these, 172 cases related to physical aggression against journalists.

The main categories of violations of freedom of speech in Ukraine in 2020 were: obstruction of legal journalistic activity - 125 cases (99 in 2019); access - 22 (21 violations last year); beatings - 20 (23 beatings last year); threats - 19 (37 cases last year), legal pressure - 19 (18 cases last year).

According to IMI, the number of obstacles to the legal professional activity of journalists increased by 26% in 2020 compared to 2019. The main reasons for this growth were illegal coronavirus quarantine restrictions and local elections.

Physical aggression again became the most common violation of freedom of speech, accounting for 74% of all violations of freedom of speech in Ukraine.