OREANDA-NEWS. Media Group Ukraine voices a strong protest over the attack against journalists during their work including the assault on the crew of Donbass TV channel in Donetsk.

On Wednesday 22 January, the camera crew of Donbass TV channel was attacked several times during the rally of the Euromaidan supporters and opponents on Shevchenko boulevard in Donetsk. A number of unidentified young people tried to snatch a microphone from the channel's reporter Yulia Minshakirova. A camera operator Igor Monastyrev was punched on his head and body several times with attempts to seize his camera. All punches would be thrown from the back. The injured went to the local police office to report the incident.

Donbass TV and its parent holding Media Group Ukraine officially state that:

The aggravation of the political crisis is leading to an uncontrolled escalation of violence in Ukraine. The conflict has gone too far (or crossed the border) with losses of life in Kiev. Everyone is under physical danger including journalists reporting live from the site of the events.

We call on all the people of different beliefs to stop the violence. A peaceful settlement is possible only through negotiations. All parties to the conflict must listen to each other and find a solution. There must be no further victims.

We need a mutually acceptable compromise based on such democratic values as freedom of speech and freedom of press. Nobody can question them. Every Ukrainian citizen has the right to information, which means that journalists must be able to carry out their professional duties and know that they will be alive and well in the first place. Violence and journalism are mutually exclusive.

The events in Donetsk are covered in the evening news on Donbass TV channel and in the news programme Sobytiya at 7pm on Ukraina TV channel.