OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir welcomes Ukrainian Supreme Court decision in case of Igor Efimov as positive step 

VIENNA, 7 March 2018 –OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today welcomed the decision by the Supreme Court of Ukraine regarding the case of Igor Efimov, photojournalist with the newspaper Vechirni Cherkasy.

“I welcome the Supreme Court’s ruling that the decision of the appellate court in Igor Efimov’s case should be dismissed and that the case is to be reviewed again,” Désir said. “I see it as a positive and important step, which will hopefully pave the way to effectively combating impunity for crimes against journalists in Ukraine.”

In its judgement of 8 February 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 Efimov, 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.

Efimov 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. 

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

The Representative 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.  

Efimov was also an active participant of the youth project, as part of an on-going dialogue between the media unions of Ukraine and the Russian Federation, held under the auspices of the Representative’s Office since 2014. 

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.