Whether there is freedom of expression in Ukraine is still an open question! Law enforcement agencies deliberately paralyze work of an independent print edition! For three days the chief editor of the Independent Auditor has been repeatedly given the runaround by employees of the Prosecutor General's Office, and still cannot return the servers storing the information and layout of the upcoming issue of the magazine. The PGO has sent the servers illegally seized at the editorial office for examination that can last from 10 to 90 days.
The editorial office staff was to suspend its work three days ago; the seized journalistic material has become outdated so far, while the subscribers are expecting to receive their issues they have paid for! Respected law enforcement agencies, please accelerate investigation and do not hinder the journalists to carry out their legitimate professional duties (art. 171 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
It is worth recalling that on April 8, 2015, the PGO representatives accompanied with armed security guards broke into the building located at 23-V Antonovych (Horky) St., the seat of Independent Auditor and the Bureau of Legal Expertise. The “invaders" attacked an unarmed security guard, beat him, broke down the door, then blocked all doorways and conducted the search for 6 hours.
The security officers attempted to find any trace NJSC Naftogaz, PJSC Ukrtransgaz and other related companies that made a number of illegal deals in 2010-2014, and thereby caused damage to the country in the amount of UAH 650 million. The search was conducted under oversight by the General Prosecutor's Office investigator Igor Grishin, whose motion to the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv entailed an illegal court decision on search of the premises.
Failed to find any documents about the companies involved in the case, the security officers seized four servers: two - editorials (with magazine layouts) and two servers of the Bureau of Legal Expertise (containing photocopies of criminal cases, material related to criminal proceedings and advocacy documents), thus having violated the secrecy of investigation and attorney-client privilege.
