NUJU claims that the deputy detained for treason is calling himself their member illegitimately

The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine has stated that Illya Karamalikov, a Kherson City Council deputy detained on suspicion of treason, has nothing to do with the union and calls himself a member illegitimately.

This was reported by the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine on April 27, after conducting an appropriate inspection.

“According to the inspection, in April 2021, the Odesa regional organization of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine revoked its decision to admit nine new members into the union, including Illya Karamalikov. The detained deputy has nothing to do with the journalist organization and illegitimately calls himself a member of the National Union of Journalists, including on social media," the statement reads.

The chairman of the Audit Commission of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine Yosyp Burcho noted that according to the statute, members of regional branches are admitted and expelled, but the statute does not deprive the audit commission of control functions over the union and regional organizations.

"We have the right and must make such a decision. The can only be one decision – to expel him from the union, " said Joseph Burcho.

Also, at the suggestion of the head of the NUJU, the Odesa organization will conduct a verification of its members who may now be in Kherson region or in the temporarily occupied territories of other regions. A separate working group of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine has been set up to respond to cases of collaboration among journalists and exclude them from the organization. In addition, a decision was made to suspend the membership of those members who once joined the NUJU while being in russia, Belarus, or Transnistria.

As IMI reported, the Security Service of Ukraine detained Kherson City Council deputy Ilya Karamalikov on suspicion of treason. Ilya Karamalikov calls himself a member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine on his Facebook page.

Ilya Karamalikov also called himself a journalist of the "Khersonsky Visnyk New" newspaper, which belongs to Hennadiy Shelestenko. Shelestenko himself confirmed that Karamalikov works with the newspaper.

Yuriy Rabotin, the head of the Odesa regional branch of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, confirmed to IMI that Karamalikov was no longer a member of their organization. "About a year and a half ago, we admitted him. This happened. And then the decision was revoked," he said.

Rabotin confirmed that Karamalikov was among those who had been issued certificates under the protection of Hennadiy Shelestenko, who posted a video with the issuance of certificates, but under pressure from the media community, the decision to admit these people to the NUJU was revoked.

On April 27, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine expelled Hennadiy Shelestenko, founder of the "Khersonsky Visnyk New" newspaper, for collaborationism and support of the occupation regime.