Yevgeny Metzger and Vladimir Pikalov at the time of the attack on Scheme journalists. Scheme journalists filmed it (Photo: Screenshot of Scheme/YouTube video)
Draft Scheme Will Call For Tougher Punishment For Former Chief Ukreximbank Yevgeny Metzger for attacking journalists, writes HB.
Draft Schemes will appeal against the decision of the first instance on the attack on a journalist and a cameraman during an interview at the state-owned Ukreximbank.
This was announced on Facebook by the journalist of the project Kirill Ovsyany.
The attackers were found guilty, they were fined up to 3400 UAH.
Journalists will ask the Kyiv Court of Appeal to apply additional punishment – to deprive Yevgeny Metzger of the right to hold senior positions in state authorities, local governments, state or municipal enterprises for a period of three years.
The case will be heard on January 18.
On October 4, 2021, Schem journalists reported the attack while filming an interview with the head of the board of the bank, Yevgeny Metzger, because he “didn’t like one of the questions.” They noted that they were attacked by security guards who took the memory cards, deleting the recorded video.
Security took away the equipment and left, leaving journalists in the company of Metzger, Director of Information Policy Department Vladimir Pikalov and another bank employee. Journalist Kirill Ovsyany recorded what was happening on a dictaphone, and after the incident he called the police, declaring that journalistic activities were obstructed. The police opened criminal proceedings, and the supervisory board – an audit.
On the evening of October 5, 2021 released video of the attack, which was restored after being deleted by Ukreximbank employees. In particular, the video shows how Metzger gives instructions to take away the equipment from journalists, “take away the cassettes” and “clean up all this shit.” The video also shows the moment of the attack on the cameraman Alexander Mazur.
Office of the President on the morning of October 6 called for the removal of the head of Ukreximbank. Metzger then stated that will write application for resignation for the duration of investigative actions by the National Police and an internal audit at the bank. Supervisory Board of Ukreximbank dismissed it at the time of the inspection.
October 11, 2021 Head of the Board of Ukreximbank Evgeniy Metzger wrote application for dismissal.
