11/7/19
KYIV -- Ukrainian police have launched a probe against Andriy Portnov, the ex-deputy chairman of the presidential administration who is accused of obstructing the professional activities of RFE/RL journalists. Maksym Tsutskiridze, the deputy chief of the National Police, told RFE/RL on November 7 that the probe was initiated a day earlier under two articles of the Criminal Code -- "obstruction of the legitimate professional activity of journalists" and "threats or violence against a journalist." Portnov has released the personal data of several members of the investigative journalism group Schemes (Skhemy), a joint project run by RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service and UA
ershy television, which was looking into his relations and dealings with current officials in the Ukrainian government. The release by the former lawmaker and deputy head of ex-President Viktor Yanukovych’s administration included registration data on 16 vehicles used by editorial and staff members of Schemes.
On November 6, Mykhaylo Tkach, a reporter for Schemes, challenged lawmakers and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s government in a speech to a parliamentary committee "to do their job" and ensure a free press amid Portnov's campaign against Schemes' editorial staff. On November 4, Mediarukh, a coalition of Ukrainian media development and press-freedom groups called on the government and law enforcement authorities to prosecute Portnov. Portnov initially fled to Russia along with Yanukovych and other high-level officials in the wake of the 2014 pro-democracy Euromaidan movement. He returned after this year’s presidential election.