BRAMA, December 27, 2013, 10:00 AM ET
Press release
UCCA-Illinois Division CONDEMNS ATTACK ON JOURNALIST AND ONGOING REPRISALS IN UKRAINE
December 26, 2013, Chicago The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America - Illinois Division, on behalf of the Ukrainian community of Chicagoland, strongly condemns the current abhorrent wave of violence applied against peaceful activists and journalists in Ukraine.
The brutal attack on Tatyana Chornovol, a prominent Ukrainian journalist working for Ukrainska Pravda, is an outrageoustargeted act of violence. Tatyana Chornovol was on her way home from Independence Square in Kyiv, when she was followed and forced off the highway by a Porsche Cayenne jeep. On Christmas Day two assailants broke the window of her car, dragged and severely beat her. This was the latest of several attacks on government critics.
Watch the YouTube video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jURFhIoX88ko.
The attack was the second on a Ukrainian opposition activist within two days. Dmitro Pylypets, a civic activist and organizer of opposition protests in the eastern city of Kharkiv, was stabbed four times on the street by two unknown male attackers late Tuesday night.
The latest assaults increase tensions between the government and millions of demonstrators who have braved sub-zero temperatures and set up tents and barricades to voice their opposition initially due to the refusal of President Yanukovych to sign the EU Agreement, and subsequently, to voice disapprovalof the violent attacks against peaceful protestors as well asopposing closer ties with Russia.
The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine issued a condemnation of the recent attacks against journalists and activities. "The U.S. Embassy is appalled by the beating of journalist Tanya Chornovol. We condemn the attack and call for an immediate investigation, which unlike previous such incidents must result in those responsible being held fully accountable under the law. ….."
UCCA - Illinois Division calls upon officials of the government of the United States and of the government of the State of Illinois to condemn these unacceptable violations of civil liberties and acts of violence, to issue a call to prevent any further incidents and to conduct transparent investigations that will bring not only the perpetrators, but also those who ordered such brutal attacks to justice.
UCCA - Illinois Division calls upon all Ukrainian-Americans and all freedom-loving people throughout the world to support the peaceful protesters in Ukraine in action and spirit against further abuse.
UCCA - Illinois Division calls upon the President of Ukraine to bring to justice those members of his government that are responsible for the attacks and selective persecution of journalists and civic activists, and to affirmatively respond to the protests of the people of Ukraine.
Website: www.uccaillinois.org
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