When Kalashnikov attacked Channel STB employees, the police did nothing
The Central Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs did not find that its law enforcement officers acted in violation of their official duties during the assault by a member of the Party of the Regions, Oleh Kalashnikov on a filming crew of Television Channel STB.
This is stated in a letter from the said department to one of the victims, journalist Margarita Sytnyk.
“Your appeal addressed to the MIA regarding the inaction of particular police offices to the conflict which arose on 12 July 2006 near the building of the Verkhovna Rada between the filming crew of Television Channel STB and State Deputy Oleg Kalashnikov has been reviewed by the Central Department in Kyiv.
During our checks, no infringements by officers of the Pechersky District Police Unit of the Central Department of the MIA as regards their official duties was found.”
As reported, on 12 July a group of Deputies and Party of the Regions supporters, led by Kalashnikov , attacked STB employees - journalist Margarita Sytnyk and cameraman Volodymyr Novosad, and forcibly removed their video cassette with film footage.
On 14 July the Prosecutor General launched a criminal investigation into a case of obstruction of journalists in their work. The investigation is continuing.