The Verkhovna Rada has already sent an invitation to the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Malyuk, to address the issue of pressure on the Bihus.Info investigative journalist project. This was announced by the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech Yaroslav Yurchyshyn from the "Golos" faction.
"Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk informed that the invitation to Vasyl Malyuk has already been sent," Yurchyshyn said.
He emphasized that now the Conciliation Council of the parliamentary factions must decide on the date of the SBU head's speech in the parliament. "Probably, the report will take place on the 20th of February," the People's Deputy added.
On February 6, the Verkhovna Rada supported the proposal to summon the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Malyuk, to present a report on the pressure on employees of the Bihus.Info investigative journalist project.
Earlier, on January 16, video materials were published where it seems that Bihus.Info employees used prohibited substances.
On the same day, the head of Bihus.Info, Denys Bigus, filed a statement regarding the publication of a provocative video about the use of prohibited substances by his employees and declared illegal surveillance and wiretapping. He also informed about personnel changes.
Journalists and media, members of the Media movement, called on the President to condemn the campaign of pressure on independent journalists and investigators and to take control of the investigation of crimes against media workers.
The head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech, Yurchyshyn, submitted parliamentary appeals to law enforcement agencies regarding the situation with Bihus.Info.
The Security Service of Ukraine has launched an investigation into the illegal wiretapping and video recording of Bihus.Info representatives.
On February 5, Bihus.Info journalists stated that they were being monitored by the SBU. In turn, the Security Service of Ukraine responded to Bihus.Info journalists' statements about surveillance and made personnel decisions regarding the Department for the Protection of National Statehood, including the dismissal of its head, Roman Semenchenko. The head of the SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, said that he would do everything possible to ensure that all mass media could work freely in Ukraine.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech Yurchyshyn (the "Voice" faction) called on the parliament to listen to the reports of the heads of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Prosecutor General's Office and the National Police on the state of investigation of cases involving attacks on journalists.
