On October 8, 2026, journalist Mykhailo Tkach from 'Ukrainian Truth' was detained in Vienna while on an editorial assignment. There is currently no direct contact with him, and his colleague Yaroslav Bondarenko, who was also in Austria, has lost contact.
Circumstances of the Detention
According to information provided by the editor-in-chief of 'Ukrainian Truth', Sevgil Musayeva, Tkach was detained by Austrian law enforcement. He has been taken to a detention facility where a lawyer is working with him, but there is no direct communication with him at this time.
Response from 'Ukrainian Truth'
The editorial team of 'Ukrainian Truth' considers the detention of Mykhailo Tkach to be illegal and demands his immediate release. They also called on Austrian law enforcement to provide official explanations for the actions that led to the journalist's detention. The editorial team emphasized the importance of establishing the whereabouts of Yaroslav Bondarenko and ensuring his safety.
Demands to Austrian Law Enforcement
In light of the situation, the editorial team of 'Ukrainian Truth' expressed concern about the actions of Austrian law enforcement and called for:
- the immediate release of Mykhailo Tkach;
- official explanations for the reasons behind the detention;
- the establishment of Yaroslav Bondarenko's whereabouts and ensuring his safety.
This situation has sparked outrage among the journalistic community and human rights defenders, who believe that the detention of journalists while performing their professional duties is a serious violation of human rights.