Pressure and Gross Interference in Journalistic Activities Weaken Ukraine

Recently, there have been two cases of obvious interference in the work of investigative journalists who have been exposing high-profile corruption in the country for years. These are extremely dangerous facts that destroy trust both within the country and abroad.  

The authorities must respond to these events as soon as possible and ensure compliance with the principles of freedom of speech in the country.  

On January 16, unknown sources spread a video showing telephone conversations and footage of a hidden recording of Bihus.Info editorial staff. According to Denys Bihus, the head of the team of investigators, the editorial staff was probably wiretapped for more than a month. Literally two days before that, Yurii Nikolov, the journalist of the Nashi Groshi publication, reported that unknown persons staged a provocation under the door of his apartment while he was not at home.  

These are facts of gross interference in the journalistic activities of two Ukrainian media at once and an undisputed encroachment on freedom of speech in Ukraine.  

Transparency International Ukraine considers any manifestations of pressure on journalists unacceptable, especially given the European integration aspirations of our country. Respect for freedom of speech is the basis of democracy and one of the fundamental principles of the European Union.  

Moreover, such actions against independent journalists are extremely dangerous during the full-scale war with Russia. We have repeatedly witnessed how the enemy used such facts as an information weapon against our country. However, it is one thing when the aggressor, within the information war, tries to destabilize the situation, and another thing is when the authorities turn a blind eye to cases of such unprecedented interference.   

Media Movement participants, editors, and journalists jointly urged the president to condemn the campaign to pressure journalists and monitor the investigation of crimes against media specialists. Media Movement notes that attacks on journalists are becoming systematic; before that, Detector Media, Ukrainska Pravda, NV, Censor, Babel, and Liga.net were under attack.  

TI Ukraine calls on the authorities to conduct an investigation into these and other cases of interference in the privacy of journalists and their work as soon as possible and analyze the legality of the use of covert surveillance and wiretapping methods. The authorities should ensure conditions for the unhindered and independent activities of Ukrainian journalists in the future.