Beaten Ukrainian journalist recounts ordeal

(Vatican Radio) Anti-government protesters have demanded the resignation of Ukraine’s Interior Minister Vitaly Zakharchenko, after an opposition journalist was badly beaten by attackers.


Hundreds marched towards Ukraine's Interior Ministry in the capital, Kyiv, throwing

chains in front of the building. They held pictures of journalist Tetyana Chornovil's badly bruised face.


Activist Natalya Sokolenko said the attack against the journalist was not an isolated incident.


“At least 51 journalists have suffered over the past month,” Sokolenko explained. “And the Interior Minister is personally responsible for that. His men are supposed to ensure public order.”

CONDEMNING MINISTER

The activists and others are demanding the Interior Minister’s resignation and condemning the president.


In her first televised interview from her hospital bed, the 34-year-old investigative journalist said she was attacked Tuesday by several men, just hours after publishing pictures of the Interior Minister’s home.


“Before being beaten, I had filmed the Interior Minister’s residence and the residence of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General, and I think that this car started to chase me after I left the prosecutor’s place,” she recalled. “And then some time ago, I discovered that the Ukrainian President also has another residence, not the one we know but another, more luxurious one.”

WEALTHY LIFESTYLES
Chornovil has been known for exposing the wealthy lifestyles of Ukraine’s leadership at

a time of economic crisis for Ukraine.


The violence has restored passion to pro-EU protests, which have continued more than a month after the government refused to establish closer ties with the EU, turning instead to neighboring Russia.


Pro-EU demonstrators have been occupying central Kyiv but their numbers have been falling since Russia began transferring part of a $15-billion bailout.

- Listen to the report by Stefan Bos: