State Bureau of Investigations confirmed they probed into purchase of “Pryamyy” TV channel

The State Bureau of Investigations informed they were investigating the purchase of the "Pryamyy” TV channel, as SBI said in its Facebook page. "The State Investigation Bureau today fulfilled some investigative activity in the framework of a pre-trial investigation of criminal proceedings regarding the sale and purchase of the "Pryamyy” TV channel. No further details could be reported for now, given the secrecy of pre-trial investigation, "the statement said. IMI reported, on July 1^st, that Andriy Portnov, ex-functionary of the time of Viktor Yanukovych, told in his Telegram messenger that the “Pryamyy” TV channel was searched, the investigators were to verify the accusation of money laundering and legalization of the TV channel’s stocks through some of Cyprus company .In its turn, The “Pryamyy” TV channel denied their office had been searched by the police due to allegations of laundering of money. Taras Berezovets, presenter of Pryamyy wrote in his Telegram messenger that some officials of the State bureau of investigations came to their office, they spoke to the lawyer of the TV channel, who gave them some accounting department papers, the same the tax  administration disposed as well. No search, no seizure, he said. The press officer for the SBI Anzhelika Ivanova confirmed earlier as well that SBI made no search in  the editorial office of the Pryamyy TV channel.