Cause of the forceful operation: report of "suspicious surveillance"
Ukrainska Pravda journalist Mykhailo Tkach emphasised that his detention by Austrian special forces in Vienna was a consequence of complaints received from the entourage of former Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko and businessman Volodymyr Galanternyk, who is wanted by the NABU. According to Tkach, he was mistakenly identified as a member of the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR).
According to UP's investigation, staff at an elite residential complex in Vienna, where Kravchenko and Galanternyk were likely staying, repeatedly informed the police about so-called "suspicious surveillance". These reports, the journalist believes, triggered the forceful operation.
Course of the detention and investigation error
Austrian special forces detained journalist Mykhailo Tkach and cameraman Yaroslav Bondarenko by smashing the window of their car. In the Austrian investigation materials, Bondarenko was mistakenly linked to HUR personnel, while Tkach was identified as a military intelligence officer based on a snapshot from a car rental company's camera.
As established by UP, the investigation only realised this error five days after the incident. During the interrogation, the journalists explained to the law enforcement officers that their goal was to locate Kravchenko.
Release and compensation
Austrian law enforcement officers checked the residence register (ZMR), confirmed Tkach's legal registration at the relevant address, and released the filming crew. UP sources indicate that the repair of the car damaged during the special forces' actions was later paid for by the Austrian police itself.
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