Criminal proceedings opened against “Schemes” for intrusion upon Portnov’s privacy and obstruction to his journalistic activity

The police have initiated criminal proceeding based on the complaint filed by Andriy Portnov, former deputy head of the Presidential Administration of Viktor Yanukovych. Portnov complained of obstruction to his professional journalistic activity (recently, Portnov became a journalist and anchorman, formally established his documents as journalist) and violation of his privacy.

The corresponding statement was received by the police on November 7, according to the National Police website.

As spokeswoman for the National Police Oksana Blyshchyk told Radio Svoboda , a lawyer with Portnov contacted the police saying that from October 26 to 31, some unidentified persons were gathering information on his client.

“The complaint contained some facts which the complainer considers to be a violation of his rights and a violation of the law in force. Investigators, as required by the Code of Criminal Procedure, in particular, Article 214 of the CCP, entered the information to the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - Article 171 (Obstruction of the Legal Professional Activity of Journalists) and Article 182 (Violation of Privacy),” Oksana Blyshchyk said.

As IMI reported, on November 7^th, the police have launched criminal proceedings due to threats by Andriy Portnov to the journalists with Radio Liberty.

On October 31, the former MP and Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Viktor Yanukovych Andriy Portnov in his Telegram channel disclosed the personal data of a member of the TV crew of “Schemes: corruption in details" program, as the editorial board is preparing an investigation into the influence and relations of the former official with the new Ukrainian authorities.

The editorial board regards the publication of the personal data of the driver of the program by Andrew Portnov as a direct pressure on the “Schemes” team.

Radio Liberty / Radio Free Europe President Jamie Fly has condemned the disclosure of Scheme staff members' personal data.

Yanukovych's deputy chairman of the Presidential Administration, Andriy Portnov, found that Radio Liberty journalists conducted illegitimate activities. And he disclosed data of number plates of three other cars related to “Schemes” journalists..

On November 4, Media Conscious Media Choice Media and other media representatives urged the authorities and the law enforcement agencies to hold the former official Andriy Portnov to account for having threatened journalists with “Scheme” investigative program and ask to ensure security for journalists.