You're reading: SBU chief speaks against publication of data of journalists accredited in uncontrolled areas of Donbas

The publication of the lists of journalists accredited in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics is inexpedient, because journalistic activities cannot be obstructed, SBU Chief Vasyl Hrytsak said.

“I believe it is inexpedient to publish such lists. That’s one thing. Those journalists who are in the anti-terrorist operation zone objectively cover what is going on there, support and show that we are not fighting separatists and it is not an internal conflict in Ukraine […] We have no right to obstruct journalistic activities,” Hrytsak said at a briefing in Kyiv on June 6.

At the same time, he emphasized that there are documented facts when a person is not a journalist, but “uses a journalistic ID as a cover.”