The civic movement Stop Censorship and Reporters without Borders have called on the authorities to carry out a swift and comprehensive investigation into the arson attack on the home of Donetsk journalist Oleksy Matsuka, Editor of the News of Donbas website http://novosti.dn.ua/. They also demand that he be given bodyguards.

“The authorities must react with firmness and, as this journalist’s life is clearly in serious danger, they must guarantee his safety by providing him with bodyguards until those responsible for this attack are found,” Reporters without Borders said.
Stop Censorship “also sees this incident as possible reprisal for his journalist activities. This is reminiscent of 2000-2004 when some of our colleagues were killed or suffered greatly because of their professional work. Those times must not return”.

Stop Censorship calls on the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Head of the Security Service and the Donetsk law enforcement bodies to ensure that the investigation into this arson attack is swift and transparent. Those responsible must be found and prosecuted.

The Kyiv Independent Media Union also issued a statement today urging the authorities to investigate the matter properly.