The National Police has created a secret department that activists and journalists say could be used to pressure journalists, activists and businesses.
The police denied such accusations.
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The department’s creation has prompted a backlash from civil society as Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, to whom the police is subordinated, is increasing his clout. The minister has faced accusations of corruption, ineffectiveness and blocking police reform, which he denies.
The department was created on March 12, and initially the police refused to tell non-governmental organizations and journalists what specific functions and structure the unit would have, saying the information is classified. The police said the purpose of the unit was “protection of the interests of society and the state.”
The Slidstvo.info investigative journalism project reported on June 8 that it had obtained police documents that describe the department’s functions.
Its functions include preventing, identifying and stopping crimes against central and local governments, civic activists, government officials and damage caused to infrastructure. The functions also include preventing damage to the environment, maintaining public order and fighting organized crime and illegal armed groups, hate crimes and violations of voters’ rights and workers’ rights.
The unit appears to double the functions of the Security Service of Ukraine’s (SBU) unit for protection of the state.
The Anti-Corruption Action Center also argued in May that the new department’s functions could double those of the police’s economic protection department, which had been accused of routinely pressuring businesses and had been liquidated in 2019.
“It’s likely that the police decided to continue pressuring businesses and the economy,” said Vitaly Shabunin, head of the Anti-Corruption Action Center’s executive board.
Oleh Kozlovsky, a police official, argued in a comment for Slidstvo.info that the unit’s functions would not overlap with those of the SBU.
He also argued that the department’s work was transparent and complied with European standards since the police were required by the law to inform citizens about measures taken against them.
Kozlovsky also claimed the department would not be used to pressure journalists, activists and journalists and would be used to protect their rights.
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