SBU Denies Existence of “Order of Daniil Galitsky” for Fired Official and Employee Following Journalist Surveillance Scandal

The investigative journalism project Bihus.Info sent a request to the SBU to nominate the head of the Department for the Protection of National Statehood, Roman Semenchenko, who was subsequently fired after publicizing the surveillance of journalists, and the SBU employee Igor Kravchenko, who was involved in the surveillance, for awarding the Order of Daniil Galitsky. The SBU denies that they have such an order.

Source: plot Bihus.Info, press service of the SBU in the commentary of the UP

Details: As noted in the story, according to information from colleagues, in January, after an operation to spy on Bihus.Info employees, but before information about this operation became public, the then head of the department for the protection of national statehood Roman Semenchenko and SBU officer Igor Kravchenko filed a criminal complaint against awarding the Order of Daniil Galitsky.

The story says that Bihus.Info submitted a request regarding this information, but has no reason to doubt its veracity.

The Order of Daniil Galitsky is awarded by presidential decree for “significant personal contribution to the development of Ukraine, conscientious and impeccable service to the Ukrainian people.”

Bihus.Info also reports that after the publication of an investigation into the involvement of the SBU in spying on journalists, intelligence officers were prohibited from using branded clothing, expensive watches and luxury cars. The corresponding mailing, according to the project, appeared in the internal chats of the SBU and reached journalists.

“To the attention of managers! I ask you to exclude the use by operational personnel of branded clothing, expensive watches, luxury cars and the like during official activities (during working hours). Exclusively tactical clothing! Compliance with the instructions is under the personal responsibility of the heads of departments… Inform the personnel of the prohibition now wear branded clothing, drive expensive cars, etc. (including and especially on weekends), since the Bigus will be actively working. Without any exceptions! Tactical uniform, etc.,” the project quotes a message from internal intelligence service chats.

The Bihus.Info story also states that after the publication of the investigation, “journalists from various editorial offices began to actively report on social networks that they were also already familiar with Igor (Kravchenko – ed.).”

“Some – because he dragged them out to a meeting, some – because he came to their editorial office. They also remembered that, according to Igor, he was assigned to deal with all the journalists,” the investigators said.

Updated: After the publication of the news, the press service of the SBU, in a commentary to the UP, denied the existence of an award for Semenchenko and Kravchenko.

Verbatim press service of the SBU: “We inform you about the absence of the state award “Order of Daniil Galitsky” from the former head of the DZNG SBU Roman Semenchenko and Igor Kravchenko.”

Background:

• On January 16, a video was leaked online showing employees of the Bihus.Info investigation project apparently using drugs. Project manager Denis Bihus recorded a video message with explanations and assured that everyone who cooperates with Bihus.Info will pass tests for drug use.
• On February 5, investigative journalists from Bihus.Info reported that they had identified those who installed hidden cameras in hotel rooms to spy on the editorial office. The department for the protection of national statehood of the SBU was responsible for the operation.
• On January 31, President Vladimir Zelensky fired the head of the department for the protection of national statehood of the Security Service of Ukraine, Roman Semenchenko.
• On February 5, the Security Service of Ukraine stated that management had made personnel decisions regarding its department and that “individual employees of Bihus.Info were found among the clients of drug dealers.”
• On February 6, people’s deputies voted to summon the head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasily Malyuk to the Verkhovna Rada with a report on wiretapping Bihus.info

2024-02-10 20:11:20


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