https://arab.news/5kgta
- Investigation was launched after a controversial video of popular news outlet Bihus party was leaked on YouTube
- Press union condemned “pressure campaign” against journalists
KYIV: Ukraine opened an investigation Wednesday after journalists from a prominent anti-corruption news outlet were secretly recorded and wiretapped, authorities said.
A video purporting to show employees from the Bihus investigative news outlet taking drugs at a corporate party was leaked on YouTube Tuesday.
Ukraine’s SBU security services said they were looking into “illegal wiretapping” of the outlet.
“The SBU believes that transparent and unhindered work of independent and professional media is an important condition for the development of Ukraine as a democratic state,” it said.
Ukraine’s Mediarukh press union publicly called on President Volodymyr Zelensky to condemn what it said was a “pressure campaign” against journalists.
Bihus is one of Ukraine’s most popular investigative news websites and has probed alleged corruption involving several politicians and business people.
“The entire team was monitored for at least several months,” the outlet said in a statement.
“We are currently trying to find out who stands behind this attack and are considering the possibility of contacting law enforcement with a statement about monitoring the employees,” it added.