KIEV, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Ukrainian police are searching for a missing editor whose newspaper was known for its criticism of law enforcement agencies, Interior Minister Anatoly Mogylyov was quoted as saying on Thursday.
Ukrainian media freedom groups have complained about growing censorship and attacks, including physical ones, on the media, since President Viktor Yanukovich replaced liberal pro-Western politician Viktor Yushchenko in February.
Vasyl Klymentyev, the editor-in-chief of the "Noviy Stil" newspaper, which focuses on corruption issues in the eastern Kharkiv region, went missing on Aug. 11 after leaving home with an unidentified man, according to police reports.
Mogylyov said police did not rule out that Klymentyev's disappearance was linked to his reporting activities, according to the Interfax news agency.
"I am personally in control of this case, full-scale search operations are under way," Interfax quoted him as saying.
The Ukrainian press was harassed and intimidated throughout the 10-year presidency of Leonid Kuchma, who ruled until 2005, with the kidnapping and murder of campaigning online journalist Georgiy Gongadze in 2000 a low point.
But the press became significantly freer after 2004 when "Orange Revolution" protests against sleaze and electoral fraud swept Yushchenko to power.
In recent months, the United States and media rights group Reporters Without Borders have voiced concerns about worsening media freedoms in Ukraine.
Yanukovich has said he supports media freedom and is against censorship.
(Writing by Olzhas Auyezov)
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