“Kyiv police opened criminal proceedings regarding the possible illegal surveillance of well-known Ukrainian journalists within the high-profile case known as Mindichgate. It is about the collection of information on the media, who for years investigated corruption, influential connections and activities of those involved in the NABU “Midas” case. The investigation is already under the control of the parliamentary committee on freedom of speech. This was reported to the National Police upon request”, — write on: ua.news
Kyiv police opened criminal proceedings regarding the possible illegal surveillance of well-known Ukrainian journalists within the high-profile case known as Mindichgate. It is about the collection of information on the media, who for years investigated corruption, influential connections and activities of those involved in the NABU “Midas” case. The investigation is already under the control of the parliamentary committee on freedom of speech. About this reported at the National Police at the request of the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech, People’s Deputy Yaroslav Yurchyshyn .
According to available information, the investigation concerns the actions of persons associated with the NABU operation “Midas”, who probably collected personal data and other sensitive information about a number of Ukrainian journalists. The list of those who could be monitored includes well-known media persons and investigators: Marina Ansiforova, Yuriy Butusov, Stanislav Rechynskyi, Volodymyr Fedoryn, Olga Chaika, Yuriy Nikolov, Andriy Kulikov. Separately, it is noted that information was collected even about journalists who had already died, in particular Volodymyr Mostovoy and Oleksa Shalayskyi.
The very fact of the appearance of such names in the case materials caused a serious resonance in the journalistic environment. It is not just about individual episodes, but about a systemic interest in people who for many years worked publicly with the topics of corruption, abuse of power and shadowy connections between big business and politics.
Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, head of the Verkhovna Rada’s Committee on Freedom of Speech, emphasized that the opening of criminal proceedings is a necessary step in this situation. In his comment, he noted: “Opening proceedings is the only correct reaction of law enforcement agencies. I keep my finger on the pulse. There will be more.”
The parliament emphasizes that illegal surveillance of journalists is a direct threat to freedom of speech and can have serious consequences not only for specific people, but also for the entire media sphere. Collecting information about the private life, contacts or professional activities of journalists without legal grounds can be considered as pressure or an attempt to intimidate.
The “Mindichgate” case itself arose against the background of NABU’s investigations into financial schemes and activities of persons connected with the so-called “Midas” operation. The media repeatedly reported that those involved in this case could try to influence the information field by tracking journalists who wrote or prepared materials on this topic.
Currently, the police do not disclose the details of the investigation, in particular, they do not report under which articles of the Criminal Code the proceedings have been opened and whether there are any suspects in the case. At the same time, the law enforcement agencies confirm that all circumstances of possible illegal surveillance will be checked, and the actions of the involved persons will be given a legal assessment.
We will remind, the investigators of “Ukrainian Pravda” were able to to establish the location of the sanctioned businessman Oleksandr Zukerman, against whom an investigation is ongoing in Ukraine.
Mindich, a figure in the Energoatom case, may be involved in the purchase of low-quality body armor for the army.
We will remind you who Timur Mindich is and why he appears in NABU affairs.
Timur Mindich, a figure in the corruption investigation, probably also had an influence on Rustem Umyerov, the former defense minister.
NABU searched the co-owner of Kvartal 95, Mindich.
The head of the Bureau of Economic Security Oleksandr Tsyvinskyi commented on the information about the possible involvement of BEB employees in the collection of “dossiers” for those involved in the “Mindichgate” case. According to him, an investigation into this was started immediately.
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