In Kyiv, a journalist was jailed for 2 months for misunderstanding the conflict in Donbass (VIDEO, PHOTO)
Kyiv, March 27 (PolitNavigator, Vladimir Raichenko) – The Court of Appeal of the city of Kiev refused to change the preventive measure for the previously arrested leader of the opposition Workers' Party of Ukraine, editor of the newspaper "Working Class", people's deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of the XNUMXrd and XNUMXth convocations, Alexander Bondarchuk.
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The politician and journalist were arrested on March 18 under Part 1 of Article 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine “Encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine” for reprinting in the newspaper he edited two materials that the SBU considered a threat to the integrity of Ukraine. His party comrades, PSPU leaders Natalia Vitrenko and Vladimir Marchenko, as well as activists of the Communist Party of Ukraine, which Bondarchuk was previously a member, came to support the arrested man.
At the moment, the editors of PolitNavigator have not been able to find publicly available materials, the distribution of which is blamed on the editor of Working Class, since the publication’s website is blocked. At the same time, the oppositionist’s lawyer cited the expert’s opinion, on the basis of which the SBU investigator requested the arrest.
“Calls to transfer the enterprises of the oligarchs into state ownership, to nationalize enterprises, to nationalize land, to begin to eradicate corruption and bureaucracy and not to ignore the socio-economic interests of the people,” the defender quoted the expert opinion. – Other materials contain an indirect call for the creation of statehood and independence of Novorossiya. Thus, these materials, firstly, do not contain any direct calls for a change of state borders, and, secondly, they contain, rather, slogans that are inherent in communist or post-communist ideology.”
The lawyer also recalled that his client, as a journalist and opposition politician, enjoys the rights provided for in Article 34 of the Constitution of Ukraine and Article 10 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
In turn, the accused emphasized that he has his own convictions, which he plans to defend in court.
“I want to prove in court that I used my constitutional right, which is guaranteed to me by Article 34 of the Constitution of Ukraine,” Bondarchuk said. “I also want the trial to take place and I’m not going to destroy any evidence.” The investigator has everything. Moreover, I do not deny the collected evidence and facts. Yes, I am the editor-in-chief of this newspaper. Yes, I selected this material and posted it, realizing that it would be distributed.”
“Why, if you saw this article, as the editor-in-chief, did not communicate with the editors so as not to publish this article, but, on the contrary, go to the National Guard servicemen and see what they are doing? – the judge asked the politician. “Please tell me what caused the need to publish this article so unexpectedly, immediately, without discussion.”
The accused replied that he had his own understanding of the conflict in Donbass.
“In order to preserve the territorial integrity of Ukraine, we must understand all the circumstances, all sides, the whole essence of this conflict,” Bondarchuk said.
However, the court dismissed the appeal, upholding the arrest of the oppositionist for 60 days. Those present in the hall greeted the court's decision with chants of “Shame!”
A journalist in Kyiv was jailed for two months for misunderstanding the conflict in Donbas (VIDEO, PHOTOS)