CoE+OSCE action on Press Safety +Russian Journalists jailed,accused+ill-treated before Ukraine Vote

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/Partly UPDATED on May 20)/- The jailing, prosecution and apparent ill-treatment (revealed also by Scandalous Photos +Videos published at the Web, showing a behavior incompatible with Human Dignity), of 2 Journalists of Russian Web Media "Life News", by the Military of Kiev's regime,  during its still on-going Attacks against the Dissident, pro-Autonomy Regions of the South-East, Started to trigger various Protests and Denonciations, including among International Organisations' and/or Human Rghts' NGOs, etc., as those whose representatives were gatherered, this Monday, at the CoE, in order to prepare an "Early Warning" and/or Protection Mechanism to Help Journalisms' Freedom. Particularly in Conflict Situations, as that which is currently evolving in Ukraine at the eve of next Sunday's Local and National Elections, that CoE's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) and Local/Regional Authorities' Congress (CLRAE) are preparing to Monitor on the spot  during the next few Days, while the real conditions  in which those Votes will take place might be affected by such Press Freedom Violations.

Topically, indeed, the move came while PanEuropean CoE was holding in Strasbourg an exceptional gathering of International Organisations (such as EU, OSCE, UNO, etc) and NGO's representatives on Press Freedom and in particular "Journalists' Safety", introduced by Human Rights' Commissioner Niels Mulznieks.  Inetrestingly, before flying to a routine visit at the Netherlands, that key CoE's Senior Official stressed from the outset the Need to Protect Today also "On-Line" Media Journalists, given also the fast growing importance of Internet, both for background, deep analysis, and for "Hot" News Reporting from the spot : I. e. precisely as, f.ex., the 2 jailed Russian Journalists' "Life News" Web Media was doing until now, by adding original news from Conflict stricken Ukraine, especially at the Eastern Regions notoriously facing Local Populations' Dissidence as well as Kiev regime's Military attacks, including by Tanks, Army Helicopters, Mortars, and other Heavy Weapons, after controversial Regional Referenda, at the eve of a scheduled National Election in controversial circumstances.

Moreover, it's indeed throughout mainly Eastern Ukraine Dissident areas that, from the Start, Kiev regime's Initial Military Attacks had surprisingly focused, at the beginning, at recuperating key Local Radio-TV Stations, in order to switch them back towards the Kiev regime-controlled Media Network, and Cut off the links to Russian-speaking Media, to which the Rebels had prefered to switch their TV sets.

Such moves, added to a still on-going "Hot" Mediatic confrontation, has inevitably and notoriously obliged, there, as well as in various other, more or less similar situations of Conflicts, mutatis-mutandis, (but even whenever many People are dissatisfied by mainstream Press of the Establishment, as f.ex. even inside USA, France, Italy, Greece, etc), to focus into developing rather various Alternative, new Internet Media, closer to the People, and judged more able to at least provide a much needed Freedom for manifold, original and Pluralist News Reporting, which, according also to ECHR's well established Case-Law, is a prerequisitive for any Democratic Society : The number and quantity of original, fresh Data (f.ex. Video, Photos, Stories, Interviews, etc)  providing News Websites has, indeed, spectacularly multiplied recently around South-Eastern Ukranian areas' events, Crimea, etc., and even Western mainstream, classical Newspapers often refer to them in order to cover their Urgent needs particularly for original Documents, (Video, Photos, testimonies, etc: F.ex. French "Figaro" a.o. for a Video-Alert at the Beginning of the 1st Military Attack by Kiev regime's Tanks, firing Mortars Exploding an early Morning at Slavoniask's outskirts, etc).

So that the proper functioning, at least at the Internet, of various, pluralist Web Media, and the necessary for that purpose Freedom of Web Journalists, has now become, in practice, the only way, for the Conflict-stricken Ukranian People, and even for all Europe and the outside World, to hope have a fairly efficient Press coverage of the on-going events, crucial for Peace, Stability, Democracy and Human Rights concerning many European Countries. Particularly when various Violent Incidents may affect also several other Journalists, from Differend, even Western Media, currently working in the Dissident, largely Russian-speaking South-Eastern areas of Ukraine, many of whom are notoriously facing recurrent Military Attacks by Kiev regime's Army, equiped with Tanks, Helicopters, Mortars and other Heavy Arms, as well as supported by various para-Military volunteers, (sometimes coming even from some controversial Extremist Movements and/or from Militia recruited and paid by a multi-Millionaire Oligarch appointed as local "Governor" by Kiev, etc).

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+ A crystal-clear Majority at the CoE has already shown it's concern for Press Freedom in Ukraine, particularly as far as it concerns, now, mainly the Dissident, pro-Russian and/or pro-Autonomy Media and/or Areas : F. ex., Earlier this year in Strasbourg, during  Debates and Votes for a Resolution on political Developments in Ukraine at CoE's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), the only one Amendment tabled by Russian MEPs which was accepted by the Plenary, was already in order to ask for Respect of Press Freedom by Kiev's regime :

 - Indeed, by adopting Amendment No 33 (to § 13), tables by 1 Moldovan and 3 Russian MEPs, the PanEuropean Assembly of the CoE, had found that there were, already, Serious enough Problems of Freedom of the Press there, in order to formally launch a "Call upon the Authorities in Ukraine", specifically,  "to Refrain from any Censorship of the Media".

+ Moreover, PACE added, on this occasion, that Kiev must "ReConsider (its) Decision to Stop the Broadcasting of some ... TV Channels in the Country".     

=> So, that, what is added now, are also obvious Concerns about eventual attempts by "the Authorities in Ukraine", to impose "Censorship" at least on "some TV Channels", this time even if located at another, neighbouring Country...     

+ Significantly, that Resolution's own Heading pointed clearly about denouncing what CoE considered to be "Threats to the functioning of Democratic Institutions".

++ The various Pretexts claimed during COE Assembly's votes by those Ukranian MEPs which were supported by Kiev's regime, had already revealed an astonishing Fear of Dissidents' Views, if they were to be Published and made available to everybody : - Indeed, they didn't speak about anything else (f.ex.; Nothing about Irregularities, or alleged Crimes, etc); but only about what was percieved by them as "Propaganda", "Hate Speech", "One sided",  etc., with the openly declared aim to .. "Protect our People against Allegations" from Political Dissidents (sic !)...   

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+++ Moreover, Today, the "International Press Institute's"  declaration which denounces the continuing Imprisonment of "Life News" TV Channel Journalists, stresses, in Addition, that "those Actions Victimise not only the Journalists involved, but also the Public, Depriving People of the Right to know what is happening in Ukraine". 

 
=>  Therefore,  such Jailings of Critical and/or Investigative Journalists, constitute serious "Violations" of Press Freedom, which are particularly Egregious coming ahead of Elections scheduled to take place this Weekend" (May 25), IPI denounced, obviously Warning that Muzzling such Press could also affect even the Legitimacy of any Government which might result from Elections done in a so Controversial context.

In this regard, if IPI had found previously that brief "Detentions" of certain Journalists by what it calls "pro-Russian separatists", "have been shocking", Today, "the Pattern of Detentions by pro-Government forces that we are Now seeing is ..Alarming", while, on the contrary, it's necessary "to ensure Journalists’ Safety in Advance of presidential Elections scheduled for May 25" in Ukraine, the International Press Organisation urged.

Indeed, "the latest detentions came on Sunday , as forces loyal to Kiev detained 2 Russian journalists from the LifeNews channel in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk.  The journalists, Oleg Sidyakin and Marat Saichenko, reportedly remain in government Custody, and (after) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov ... asked the ...OSCE  to help secure their release", the "OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic,  yesterday condemned the continued harassment of journalists covering the conflict in Ukraine and said her office had contacted Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov to ask for Sidyakin and Saichenko’s Release and for an investigation into the case".

- Therefore, IPI also "Urge(d) authorities in Kiev to direct pro-Government forces to allow journalists to do their jobs without Harassment or Intimidation", and "Moscow's .. supporters .. to do the same".

=> "Ukrainian authorities should Release Oleg Sidyakin and cameraman Marat Saychenko immediately," stressed, already from Monday, also the  International "Committee to Protect Journalists" (CPJ's) Europe and Central Asia program researcher, Muzaffar Suleymanov, from New York.

- "We call on all sides in the conflict in Ukraine to Respect journalists' status as civilians and allow them to Report Freely", CPJ's competent Spokesman added, as a matter of general Principle, after observing that "on Sunday, Ukrainian soldiers in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, detained Russian journalist Oleg Sidyakin and cameraman Marat Saychenko, both with the pro-Kremlin news portal Life News, during a raid on armed separatists". "Sidyakin and Saychenko were Accused of aiding" them,  and "the Soldiers later handed the journalists over to the SBU, the Ukrainian National Security Service, in Kiev, where they are being interrogated, (as) Valentin Nalivaychenko, Head of SBU, said, according to news reports", CPJ noted.
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+ Several Western Media, NGOs and other Press-related Organisations published various News about these incidents during the last 2 Days, but, most of them, (with some rare exceptions, as that f.ex. of "RFI"), curiously downplayed the issue of the alleged prolonged imprisonment, violent ill-treatment and heavy accusations against the 2 Russian "Life News" Journalists arrested in Russian-speaking areas of Eastern Ukraine which notoriously face a Deadly Military Offensive by Kiev regime's Tanks, Warfare Helicopters and Heavily Equiped Army, against local Defensive forces of Political Dissidents which try to protect their Home Towns, by placing them at an equal level with those, (obviously much less dangerous, comparatively), of a Turkish and/or a Polish Journalist reportedly detained briefly for a few Hours only, before being set Free, in Crimea and in mainland Russia, respectively.

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+ However, shortly afterwards, also another Russian Media Journalist, TV "Russia Today"s Graham Philips, a British origin Press Worker active particularly at Eastern Ukraine,  was reportedly  arrested and checcked by Kiev regime's Security Forces, before going "Missing" for more than a Day now.

Philips had reportedly been targeted, inter alia, also for his TV Reporting with original images on the spot, including f.ex. of the 1st Deadly Attack by Kiev regime's Tanks against Revolted Dissident People trying to protect their Home Village at Sloviansk, even during an Easter Night truce, and despite the April 17 Geneva Agreements between USA/EU/Kiev and Russia, calling for National Dialogue on comprehensive Reforms. Meanwhile, RT's British Journalist had, reportedly, also helped spot a "Turkish looking" Individual, among some Heavily Armed and Masked para-Military (denounced to be at least partly composed also by various Foreigners), who seconded Kiev regime's Soldiers in their Deadly Attacks against Dissidents defending their breakaway Regions, whose Russian-speaking Population voted Massively on May 11, in favor of 2 makeshift popular Referenda for a controversial "Autonomy" vis a vis those who seized Power at Kiev after the controversial Deadly Clashes of February 21, which topled by Violence a written and signed Comromise Agreement concluded between the elected but ousted f. Ukranian President Yanukovich and all 3 Leaders of the former Opposition, under the auspices of 3 Foreign Ministers from core EU Countries : Germany, France and Poland, (Comp. Supra).

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+ Meanwhile, CoE's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE),  and, in parallel, its PanEUropean "Congress of Local and Regional Authorities" (CLRAE), are both sending this week 3 Teams of Observers in Ukraine for the Monitoring of Nationa and Local Elections, where Press Freedom is normaly considered a crucial Principle of Democratic Legitimacy.

PACE's National Election Monitoring Team is headed by Swiss Socialist MEP Andreas Gross, and has more than 40 Members, due to check the Election-related situation throughout Ukraine from 23 to 25 May 2014.

However, an obvious political and practical Handicap for PACE's Electoral Monitoring role in Ukraine now is the Fact that, for the 1st time in History, all Russian MEPs have been recently Excluded from any Voting and/or participation to PACE's Top Bodies until January 2015, (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/coeminorityamendmentpushesrussianmepsout.html ), so that, inevitably, its reporting and jugements of the present Ukraine Elections might be suspected to be possibly UnBalanced, and, thereby, unfortunately lose much from their traditional Credibility... 

+ But, this time, exceptionaly, CoE Assembly's visit includes also 2 Experts of CoE's "Venice Committee" for Democracy through Law, due to check soon Institutional Reforms in Ukraine, mainly through Constitutional changes, which might include also a more or less important degree eventualy of Federalisation and/or Local/Regional Decentralisation, notoriously Crucial for the prospect of a Peaceful Political Solution to the Bloody Conflict currently affecting Ukraine while also risking to push all Europe in a Wider Confrontation, with Dangers of Catastrophic dimensions as several Top European a.o. Politicians have already warned, (See also "EuroFora"s relevant NewsReport, with original News and Interviews on CoE's "Venice Commission" possible role : ...)

+ While that of the CLRAE (with 19 Members) is led by Austrian Socialist Gudrun Mosler-Törnström, and includes 5 representatives of EU's Committee of Regions. CLRAE's Rapporteur for that event has been named UK's Liberal Nigel Mermagen. But it's also a Higher Level CLRAE Visit to Ukraine which is reportedly under preparation now, due to focus mainly on current Political issues.

CLRAE's Chamber of Region's President (at least until October 2014) is Ukranian Liberal Nataliya Romanova, but Head of Ukraine's National Delegation to the CLRAE was until now the  Chairman of Lugansk's Regional Council, Valeriy Golenko, from the "Party of Regions" of former President Yanukovich, which included also other CLRAE Members from largely Russian-Speaking areas of South-Eastern Ukraine, such as, f.ex. Oleksandr Lukianchenko : Mayor of Donetsk, Sergiy Chernov, Chairman of the Kharkiv Regional Council, Oleksiy Goncharenko from Odessa and vice-Chairman of the Ukranian National Delegation, as well as Katerine Voloshyna, from Sevastopol, Crimea, (where a controversial ReUnification back to Russia took place following a Referendum after the 21 February 2014 Deadly Clashes at Kiev which topled the Pan-Ukranian compromise Agreement sponsored by 3 EU Foreign Ministers from France, Germany and Poland).

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(NDLR : "DraftNews", as already send to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors, earlier. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be published asap).

(+ Partly UPDATED on May 20)

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