Arrest of Ukrainian reporters in Vienna: Hematomas and suspicions

A week after a violent police operation against two Ukrainian journalists in Vienna left them with injuries and unanswered questions, authorities remain tight-lipped about the incident. The journalists were detained on October 8 during a routine investigation into former Ukrainian prosecutor Ruslan Krawtschenko, who had fled to Austria following a raid by anti-corruption agencies in September. The two journalists, Mychajlo Tkatsch and Jaroslaw Bondarenko, were stopped by masked officers from the special unit Cobra at a red light, their car windows smashed, and guns drawn. According to Tkatsch, the situation was alarming. Bondarenko suffered facial injuries, including a shard of glass lodged under his eye, requiring surgery while still in handcuffs. Both men were interrogated for over 12 hours before being released. Despite the physical trauma, both continue to suffer from headaches due to bruises and hematomas on their heads and faces. Since returning to Ukraine, there has been no official response from any authority, neither apology nor explanation, according to Tkatsch. Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner cited “espionage suspicions” as the reason for the arrest, stating he saw no grounds to question the proportionality of the operation. He linked the case to two other Ukrainians arrested earlier on similar charges, though Tkatsch and Bondarenko claim they did not know these individuals. According to the Vienna prosecutors, the arrest followed reports that three men were observed surveilling a location. They assumed one of the journalists might be connected to the two detained Ukrainians and obtained court approval to detain him. The second journalist was taken by police initiative. The prosecutors stated that the assumption was not confirmed, leading to the release of both men. However, they claimed the journalists' profession was unknown at the time of the arrest. Tkatsch disputes this, noting that during interrogation, he suggested checking their identities online, to which the investigator responded that their journalistic work was known. Questions remain regarding the nature of the espionage allegations, how witness statements were verified, and why a summons was not sufficient. These inquiries have gone unanswered by the interior ministry and prosecutors, citing ongoing investigations. Tkatsch seeks clarification on whether his phones and laptops, held by police until the next morning, were accessed. This could raise serious concerns about source protection. Tkatsch and his publication suspect that individuals close to Krawtschenko may have misled the police. Internationally, the incident has sparked outrage. The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed shock, while the International Press Institute voiced deep concern. Both organizations demand explanations from Austria. Reporters Without Borders also criticized the incident, and the Vienna Press Club Concordia called it highly disturbing. Separately, in Germany, investigations are underway into alleged corruption involving the Garzweiler lignite mine operated by RWE. Prosecutors are looking into bribery and improper disposal of toxic soil from construction sites near the mine. Twelve suspects are currently under investigation. RWE Power AG, which operates the mine, expressed doubts about the allegations of illegal waste disposal, citing its control system designed to prevent such activity. Each truckload of excavated earth is inspected visually and by smell before and after unloading, with up to 400 trucks checked daily. Suspicious deliveries are rejected. However, information suggests that suppliers may have bypassed these controls. The area around Garzweiler is set to undergo transformation post-coal, with plans for new housing and a lake. Six municipalities bordering the mine have a combined population of nearly 440,000 residents. Plans include filling the pit in Garzweiler I completely and expanding the neighboring city of Jüchen with up to 3,000 homes. In Garzweiler II, RWE will continue coal extraction for the next four years, with plans to flood the pit with groundwater and river water to create a lake. Contaminated soil is believed to have ended up in both areas despite the inspection regime. An example of this can be traced back to a construction site in Krefeld, where contaminated soil was unearthed by a bulldozer in May 2022. A report described the soil as non-reusable due to carcinogenic contaminants.