SBU detains official of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine for "spreading Russian propaganda"

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has detained the head of a department of the Ministry of Culture, who was engaged in “actively spreading Kremlin narratives and justifying Russia’s armed aggression.” According to the investigation, the detainee “publicly supported Russia’s actions” and “spread disinformation about the situation at the front.”

According to the Pryamyy news outlet , the official, in communication with her colleagues and acquaintances , “praised Vladimir Putin’s policy, quoted his speeches and justified missile strikes on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.” In addition, the defendant “discredited the Ukrainian Defense Forces by spreading fake information about the operational situation in the combat zone.”

SBU specialists conducted a linguistic examination, which officially confirmed that the activities of the employee of the Ministry of Culture “were of an informational and subversive nature in the interests of Russia”. During the searches at the suspect’s residence, the SBU seized material evidence: four smartphones, two laptops and a hard disk with materials confirming her criminal activity.

The investigation has now served the detainee a notice of suspicion under Part 3 of Art. 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (justification, recognition as lawful, denial of Russian armed aggression against Ukraine, glorification of its participants). The sanction of the article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to 8 years with possible confiscation of property.

To recap, Vice Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture of Ukraine Tetiana Berezhna said that the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine “adheres to strict legal logic and principles of responsibility when transferring buildings to religious communities, rejecting the confessional approach.” Berezhna emphasized that Ukraine is a secular state, so it does not consider state-religious relations in terms of confessional preferences.