Babchenko case echoes: Probe into disclosing names of might-have-been victims in Ukraine


Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) opened a criminal investigation into the disclosure of pretrial investigation information over publishing the names of potential victims of terrorist acts in the country.

Earlier, the news website Strana.ua made public 47 names. According to the SBU, these data was classified as part of a criminal case.

“The publication lists the names of Ukrainian citizens and citizens of foreign countries who were to be killed as a result of terrorist acts in the territory of our country. At the same time, the relevant data wasn’t provided for disclosure of the information to anyone, including the author of the publication of the above-mentioned online media outlet either by the pretrial investigation body or procedural leader,” Interfax Ukraine quotes the security service.

Investigative actions continue in the framework of open criminal proceedings under Part 1 of Article 387 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. It may carry a punishment of up to two years’ community service or monetary penalty.

On May 29, the Kyiv police confirmed the murder of the Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko. A day later, however, the SBU stated that the death had been staged to prevent the contract killing and track its organiser. Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko said that the faked murder resulted in their receiving a list of 47 people who could have been the next victims of terrorists. According to him, these are mainly well-known Ukrainian and Russian journalists and bloggers known for their criticism of the Kremlin.

belsat.eu

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