Donetsk TV host threatened over Russian language programming

NEW YORK - In a June 24 letter to Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists raised its concern about the alleged abduction of Taras Moskaliuk, host of the "Ranok Vechera" program, and threats of violence against the show's producer, the Ukrainian National Television and Radio Broadcasting Co.

The CPJ cites reports by Vikna, a Kyiv-based television news program, and Russia's National News Service, that Mr. Moskaliuk was abducted in front of his apartment building at 1:30 a.m. on June 6 by two unidentified youths. After being forced into a car with the two men, one of whom was allegedly armed, he was taken at gunpoint to an empty lot.

At that point the assailants allegedly threatened Mr. Moskaliuk with the weapon, demanding that his program immediately stop broadcasting in the Russian language and begin using Ukrainian. The kidnappers released Mr. Moskaliuk at 7 a.m., warning that if Ukrainian-language broadcasts did not commence, they would blow up the Donetsk broadcasting center on Vulytsia Artema at 2 p.m.

As a result, Ukrainian TV evacuated the building and suspended the news program. The militia did not find any explosives after a search of the premises. Mr. Moskaliuk had received threatening phone calls in March, which the kidnappers allegedly mentioned during his hours in captivity.

While noting that an official investigation into the incident had been launched by law enforcement agencies and the Security Service of Ukraine, the CPJ letter called on Mr. Kuchma to ensure a thorough review of the case and secure working conditions for all journalists in Ukraine.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, July 6, 1997, No. 27, Vol. LXV

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