"20 Khvylyn" journalist contacts police over stalking

"20 Khvylyn" journalist Iryna Belyakova filed a statement with the police due to harassment: an unidentified user posted photos and videos of her walking around the city under her Facebook post.

The journalist reported this to the Institute of Mass Information representative Iryna Nebesna.

On October 17, Iryna Belyakova made a Facebook post which prompted a discussion between her and her colleagues and acquaintances of the false reports about media professional Vitaliy Antoniuk being killed in combat. An unidentified user posted shared photos and videos of the journalist taken in the city streets in the comments to the post.

Iryna Belyakova believes that she is being deliberately stalked.

Iryna Belyakova. Photo by Iryna Belyakova on Facebook

"In the photos and videos shared under my post, I am withdrawing cash from an ATM, then walking down the street and checking my phone. Nothing to worry about, it would seem, but the footage was taken in different locations, so 'accidentally getting in the frame' is out of the question. If you look at the videos, it could not have been taken by surveillance cameras: it was done by an individual person from a specific location and probably with some purpose. Judging by my clothes, it was filmed back in the summer. So I have a question: who filmed it and why? What other so-called content does that person have? Where else will these photos and videos be posted? What will be the next leaked video and what limit can the author reach in this absurdity?" she said.

The journalist had contacted the police and reported covert filming, stalking and harassment, which she believes has to do with her journalism. The statement has been registered, as confirmed to the IMI by Serhiy Kreta, chief of communications department at the Ternopil Oblast National Police.

"The statement has been entered into the unified register of pre-trial investigations. Proceedings have been initiated under Part 1 of Article 182 'Violation of privacy,'" said Serhiy Kreta.

The article provides for a fine from 500 to one thousand non-taxable minimum incomes, up to two years of community labor, arrest for up to six months, or restriction of freedom for up to three years.

As reported earlier, on October 17, the anonymous Facebook page "Bigus Ternopilskyi" posted disinformation, alleging that journalist Vitaliy Antoniuk, who worked with "20 Khvylyn" for many years, had been killed in action.

In her comment to the IMI, the media outlet's editor Natalia Burlaku said that she did not know whether the two cases are related.

"The two incidents happening at roughly the same time is a fact. But no one knows what is on anyone's mind. Whether it's just trolling or provocation. We have to insure ourselves in case worse situations arise," Burlaku noted.

According to her, the team recently published several reportages "related to illegal land sale schemes in Ternopil and to officials leaving the country." However, she is unsure whether both incidents have anything to do with that material.

"If only things were this obvious... We have theories and assumptions as to who might be involved. We told the police everything, now it is for them to check," the editor noted.

The police said that a statement related to the alleged death of journalist Vitaliy Antoniuk also came from another "20 Khvylyn" journalist whose name was mentioned by the anonymous page "Bigus Ternopilskyi" the day after the incident in a "debunking", who alleged that it was that journalist who informed them of the death of his colleague. The statement was attached to the fraud proceedings. Another one is expected from Natalia Burlaku.

Yulia Inozemtseva, a former "20 Khvylyn" journalist whose bank card number was listed under the false report about Antoniuk's death with an allegation that he was his wife, reported on Facebook that she had that card blocked.

"Since that untrue and cynical message was posted, my bank account received four cash payments from three different people, who, unfortunately, fell for the fake call to 'support the family of the fallen soldier,'" she said, adding that she returned the money to these people and is actively cooperating with the police in the case.