Court cancelled search warrant of editor in chief of “Strana.ua” Huzhva

The Shevchenkivskyi district court in Kiev has cancelled international and national search warrant of the editor-in-chief of the web-based edition “Strana.ua” Ihor Guzhva, as Interfax-Ukraine informed referring to the press service of the General prosecutor office. "The court has issued an order to cancel the search warrant of Ihor Guzhva,” the GPO’s press service said and added this was due to the fact that his whereabouts have been established and the fact he has been granted a political asylum in Austria. As reported by IMI, on June 22, 2017, the police detained Ihor Guzhva, editor in chief of "Strana.ua", on suspicion of extortion of 10 thousand dollars from a MP Dmytro Linka. IMI informed as well that Ihor Huzhva had left Ukraine and asked for political asylum in Austria, was placed on a wanted list. This was the resolution of Shevchenkivskyi district court of Kyiv, approved on February 12, Channel 5 reports. This measure was requeste dby the prosecutor’s office, the representatives of which claims that Huzhva is dodging the investigation. The attorneys insisted instead that their client is abroad for medical care, and will return to Ukraine on February 20. As IMI reported before, on January 31, chief editor of the media outlet “Strana.ua” Ihor Huzhva reported that he left the territory of Ukraine, and requested a political asylum in Austria. In his address he complained about pressure of the authorities and reminded that five criminal cases were started against him. Huzhva also claimed that he left the country due to threats to his life and health.