SBI notifies the head of Ivano-Frankivsk migration service of suspicion for obstruction of reporting

The State Bureau of Investigation notify a State Migration Service official of suspicion / photo by the SBI press office

The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has handed a suspicion notice to the head of a regional State Migration Service for obstructing the work of journalists, reports the SBI press service.

According to the investigation, in July 2024, journalists from a news agency arrived at a resort complex in Ivano-Frankivsk oblast. They wanted get the official's comment on his family members' wealth. The journalists introduced themselves and, holding a microphone with the name of the agency and a video camera in their hands, started filming.

The suspect did not answer the journalists' questions and deliberately struck the operator's video camera with his hand, damaging the camera.

The official was notified of suspicion on August 30 under Part 1 of Article 171 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (preclusion of the legal professional work of journalists).

He faces a fine of up to fifty tax-free minimum incomes (850 hryvnias), up to six months of arrest, or up to three years in limited custody.

The measure of restraint for the suspect is being chosen.

As reported by Suspilne Ivano-Frankivsk, the official in question is the head of the State Migration Service in Ivano-Frankivsk oblast, Serhiy Sayiv, and the journalists were with "StopCor". The incident between him and the correspondents took place on July 18, 2024 in Dzvyniach village. As "StopCor" writes, the official first hid from them, and later "lashed out" and knocked the camera out of the cameraman's hands; the camera "stopped working after the blow."

After the incident, the reporters filed a statement with the Bogorodchany police station No. 2, alleging an attack on journalists.