Editor of Poltava website complains about pressure from law enforcers

The editor-in-chief of Poltava-based online media outlet “Ostanniy Bastion” ("The Last Bastion") Hennadiy Sikalov complains about pressure exerted against him due to his investigation of crimes of the National Police and the Prosecutor's office of Poltavska oblast. Henndaiy Sikalov received a notice of being a suspect in the Chief Department of National Police of Poltavska oblast. This was reported by IMI representative in Poltavska oblast.

Sikalov himself considers the notice of being a suspect a fake and states that law enforcement officers broke into the editorial office of “Ostanniy Bastion”.

“A fake suspect notice explains many things. In particular, on March 21 at night police officers broke into the office of “Bastion” through the window. Some things were stolen then. On March 22, after the police was called due to the theft, the officers installed audio and video recorders in our office. In the middle of May, unidentified people broke into my home. Some important documentation stored on external drives was taken. My opinion it is due to secret investigation by corrupt cops to get more money that we declared as property of their wives and in attempt to overcome independent mass media”, "Ostanniy Bastion" quotes Hennadiy Sikalov.

All this, he claims, was because he “published a number of materials exposing crimes of the high officials of the Poltavska oblast National Police and Prosecutor's office”.

“The police officers targeted the unfinished TV studio of "Bastion," which is still under construction. Also, after a series of publications about police and prosecutors being part of theft of mineral resources and gas condensate, they can lose over 300 million hryvnias of potential profit”, the editorial office claims.

The website also singled out the publications that caused pressure against Sikalov (according to Sikalov himself): Unchanged MIA traditions, Jobless wife of head of National Police Administration in Poltavska oblast bought apartment in elite new building in Kyiv, Farmer from Reshetyliv rayon: 40 hectares of land for parents of those who perished in ATO forced into the hands of 21-year-old student.

IMI representative in Poltavska oblast Nadiya Trush mentions that the media outlet in question is not very influential among civil activists and even fellow journalists from other media outlets: it is famous for publishing unsubstantiated accusations and violating standards of journalism.

 The authorities so far are not willing to comment on the issue.