A criminal investigation was launched into the attack on Russian TV LifeNews' journalists in Kiev, a spokesman for the Investigative Committee (IC) said Friday.

"A criminal case has been open on obstruction of the lawful activities of a TV LifeNews' female journalist in the city of Kiev and also into the open theft of her belongings," Vladimir Markin said.

The IC was aware that the law enforcement authorities of Ukraine have also launched an investigation into the case, but doubted that this action could be "a mere formality", according to Markin.

Ukrainian Internal Affairs Ministry said earlier on its website that a suspected attacker had been detained under the charges of robbery and interfering with professional journalism activities.

Early Friday morning, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused the attack as "a gross violation of the fundamental principles of freedom of speech and a manifestation of inaction of Ukraine's authorities."

Zakharova called on international journalistic community, human rights activists, as well as any related international organizations, to react to the incident by giving a proper assessment of the attack.

"Silence in this case is an act of compliance," RIA Novosti news agency quoted Zakharova as saying.

LifeNews said late Thursday night on its website that the channel's female correspondent and her cameraman have been attacked when reporting a march in Kiev, while some of their equipment were taken away or damaged by attackers.

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