While analyzing the treatment of journalists during the 2007 Ukrainian Rada elections, experts at the Institute of Mass Information in Kiev came to a conclusion that among the “gravest” violations of journalist rights in Ukraine was the widespread economic and political pressure on media publications, reported Korrespondent. According to the Institute’s research, among the most vulnerable were government and public media outlets operating in the regions.

As the election campaign intensified, reported the Institute, so did attacks on individual journalists, which included cases of battery, private property arson, and staged car accidents.

Analysts also mentioned some positive developments.  Among them was the fact that unlike in previous parliamentary elections, Ukrainian political parties refrained from suing media outlets for publishing critical articles during the 2007 campaign.

This information was originally published September 30, 2007 (www.korrespondent.net).