TI Ukraine states increase of law enforcement bodies pressure against civil activists

Office of the international anti-corruption network Transparency International in Ukraine condemns persecution of civil activists and emphasizes inadmissibility of targeting of citizens who struggle with corruption by law enforcement agencies. TI Ukraine urges the public to informa about such cases of pressure to inform the international partners about the dangerous situation in the third sector. This was stated in the release of the organization as of August 21, published on the site. The organization points out that the situation with the pressure of law enforcement agencies against Ukrainian anti-corruption activists “becomes ever more alarming”. The most indicative example of political pressure and selective justice against the head of “Center for counteraction to corruption” Vitaliy Shabunin. “This trial is continuation of oppression of the Center and became a public reprisal against the activists who is an uncomfortable person for the authorities”, TI Ukraine points out. According to the executive director of Transparency International Ukraine Yaroslava Yurchyshyna, everyone need to bear their responsibility for committed offences, yet this must not become a tool for pressure against activists and abuse of power by the law enforcement agenices. TI Ukraine also points out that the head of Rivnenska oblast advocacy organization "Agency of journalist investigations" and member of TI Ukraine Volodymyr Torbich also claims that he is being pressured by the Security Service of Ukraine. The Security Service of Ukraine started sending "The Fourth State" media outlet letters after their investigation of the origin of the wealth of Pavlo Demchyna, bor in Rivnenska oblast, who is now vice-head of the Service. TI provided several other example of pressure by the law enforcement and counter-intelligence agencies in response to publications of corruption investigations.