Ukrainian journalists freed as Austria holds two in spy case

Two Ukrainian journalists detained in Austria in an espionage case are being released, while two other Ukrainians remain in custody on spying suspicions, Austrian authorities said Friday.

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said the two suspects arrested on Monday remained in custody on suspicion of “espionage”. He said investigations were under way and declined to give further details.

A spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office said the two journalists were detained on Thursday on suspicions that had not been confirmed. “One has already been released and the second will be,” she said.

The journalists work for the Ukrainian daily Ukrainska Pravda, which condemned their arrests and demanded explanations from Austrian law enforcement authorities. The paper said investigative journalist Mykhailo Tkach was freed early Thursday after more than 12 hours in custody in Vienna.

Ukrainska Pravda editor-in-chief Sevgil Musaieva said cameraman Yaroslav Bondarenko was injured during his arrest and hospitalised. She said police did not begin questioning him until late at night.

The paper said Tkach was in Vienna on an editorial assignment linked to the search for former Ukrainian prosecutor general Ruslan Kravchenko, who is on the run. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired Kravchenko last month. He has been accused of taking bribes, allegations he denies.

Reporters Without Borders said the two journalists were subjected to a violent police arrest in Vienna and called on Austrian authorities to clarify what happened and protect their equipment and sources.

Ukraine's foreign ministry said it was continuing to work to clarify the circumstances of the detention and was in contact with Austria's foreign ministry.