An Open Letter from the TSN.ua Editorial Team
The editorial staff of TSN.ua has released an open letter detailing pressure and threats directed at its journalists following the publication of a 'Hapuga' project report on the activities of religious organizations in Ukraine. Over the past week, journalists have received anonymous phone calls threatening physical violence, specifically targeting one female colleague. These threats are a direct response to an investigative report published on TSN's YouTube channel. This case highlights the ongoing risks faced by investigative journalists in Ukraine when covering sensitive topics.
In the letter, the editorial board stated it views these actions as unacceptable pressure on journalists and a direct threat to their safety. 'Subsequently, unknown individuals escalated to direct threats, explicitly referencing the published material. This includes anonymous calls and intimidating messages, specifically threats of physical violence against our colleague,' the editorial statement reads.
Response from the Muslim Community
In response to these events, journalists engaged directly with representatives of Ukraine's Muslim community. The Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Ukraine 'Umma' and Said Ismagilov, a chaplain of the Second Medical Battalion and a lieutenant in the Armed Forces of Ukraine Chaplaincy Service, have publicly defended the journalists. They share the TSN.ua editorial board's position, calling for dialogue, mutual respect, and the rejection of all forms of aggression:
“This position is shared, in particular, by the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Ukraine 'Umma', as well as Said Ismagilov, chaplain of the Second Medical Battalion, lieutenant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Chaplaincy Service. Like the TSN.ua editorial board, they advocate for dialogue, mutual respect, and the prevention of any forms of aggression.”
The conflict escalated after the publication of the report, which provoked outrage among some individuals. The TSN.ua editorial team initiated an additional fact-checking process and sought comments from the subjects featured in the report. Separately, it is worth noting that the Solomianskyi District Court of Kyiv sentenced Yurii Kot to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property, though this information is not directly related to the conflict surrounding the journalists.
This situation underscores the critical importance of protecting freedom of speech and journalist safety in Ukraine, particularly when publications may provoke strong reactions from certain segments of the population. The response from Ukraine's Muslim community to the threats against journalists demonstrates a readiness for constructive dialogue and support for principles of mutual respect in society. The unfolding events may influence future media activities and the relationship between religious organizations and journalists in Ukraine.