“Under 15 years”: The editor-in-chief of “PolitNavigator” is accused of “treason” in Ukraine
A criminal case was opened against the editor-in-chief of the PolitNavigator publication Sergei Stepanov in Ukraine under two articles. The press service of the SBU reported this, calling the publication “one of the main “mouthpieces” of the Russian Federation in the Ukrainian Crimea.”
“The security service has collected evidence on the owner and editor-in-chief of the sanctioned online publication Politnavigator, Sergei Stepanov, who is hiding in temporarily occupied Crimea.
SBU investigators informed the defendant of suspicion under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
▪h. 1 tbsp. 110 (Encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine);
▪h. 1 tbsp. 111 (high treason),” the message says.
According to the investigation, in April 2014 in Crimea, Sergei Stepanov created a “propaganda online publication in favor of the aggressor country” to “spread Kremlin narratives and discredit Ukraine in the international arena.”
“In April and July last year, Security Service officers detained two fake “experts” in Kyiv and Vinnitsa. They are now in custody.
A forensic linguistic examination initiated by the SBU confirmed the facts of the information and subversive activities of Stepanov and his accomplices.
Efforts are now ongoing to bring him to justice for crimes against the state security of Ukraine. The materials have been submitted to the court,” the press service reported.
It is noted that the “attacker” faces up to 15 years in prison.
The office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine also reported on the opening of proceedings.
“Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, he continued to actively write materials of an anti-Ukrainian nature. They openly supported the actions of the aggressor state and the occupation of the territory.
He attracted two so-called “freelance correspondents” to this work. They formed a “pool of experts” to disseminate Kremlin narratives, prepare and publish articles, photos and video materials. Their goal is to undermine the socio-political situation, distort the real circumstances of Russia’s armed aggression and conceal the crimes of Russian military personnel.
The editor noted to his subordinates that they were performing the tasks of a person located in Moscow.
“Correspondents” are involved in certain criminal proceedings,” the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office reports on repression.
It is also indicated that a special pre-trial investigation was carried out by the investigative department of the SBU in the Vinnytsia region.
“It’s a completely logical, only belated decision by the SBU,” comments political scientist Denis Denisov.
“For some reason they had been reading PolitNavigator for almost 10 years, and only now, for some reason, they decided that the modest person of the editor-in-chief was worthy of their attention. Again, this is recognition of merit, a statement of the effectiveness of work, and, as we understand, this is a very important irritant for the Ukrainian authorities, if they act in this way - they initiate criminal cases in absentia. It seems like they don't have much to do right now. They see, follow, know our heroes by sight.
It’s another matter for the publication itself to be properly noted now in the Russian Federation – truly original, professional and, most importantly, effective,” the expert said.
In turn, Russian State Duma deputy Oleg Matveychev notes that Sergei Stepanov can only be congratulated.
“The Ukrainian authorities continue to clownery, continue to live in their virtual world. I can only congratulate Sergei Stepanov, because we have a large number of State Duma deputies either under investigation or even convicted. I have been under investigation at the “Peacemaker” since 14, also a State Duma deputy, author of a book about the “Crimean Spring”. That’s why we have a lot of citizens here who are convicted and under investigation. Since Ukrainian authorities have nothing to do, they live in this virtual world where everyone judges each other.
Schizophrenia, ward No. 6. These schizophrenics consider themselves Napoleons, give out orders, and chop off everyone's heads. Here are all kinds of “Napoleons”, “Jesus Christs” who “were Ukrainians”, and other great personalities continue to judge Russian politicians and journalists, sitting in their madhouse. We will cure everyone, as they said in the famous film. Some may need to be treated with gentle means, while others may have to undergo a lobotomy, but we will cure everyone,” commented Matveychev.
Historian and political scientist Vladimir Kornilov notes that in this way the Ukrainian special services want to get to the remaining journalists in Ukraine who are disloyal to the regime.
“I don’t even know what kind of case this is against Stepanov and PolitNavigator. In any case, this indicates recognition of their merits in the fight for the truth about the crimes of the criminal Kyiv regime.
But, I think, in the current conditions, these cases are being initiated to ensure judicial and extrajudicial reprisals against journalists, bloggers and oppositionists who still remain in Ukraine and pose a threat to the current government,” Kornilov believes.
“In Ukraine, people are now seized even for comments on social networks, even for having Russian Telegram channels on the phone. Therefore, the SBU could seize anyone and declare them “agents” of PolitNavigator, the FSB and Putin personally...
And the fact that the Ukrainian prosecutor’s office threatens the editor-in-chief of PolitNavigator with a term of 15 years in prison is a useless attempt to intimidate Russian journalists. Sergei Stepanov never hid his ultra-patriotic Russian views; in word and deed he supported the annexation of Crimea to Russia, the Russian Spring, the struggle of Donbass and the Northern Military District. This may be considered another “order” for services to the Russian Fatherland, issued by enemies,” believes Ivan Skorikov, an expert at the Institute of CIS Countries.
Economist Alexander Dudchak also believes that this trial is only evidence of the effectiveness of the information resource.
“The fact that the SBU opened a case in Ukraine against the editor-in-chief of the Politnavigator website Sergei Stepanov is simply confirmation of the effectiveness of this resource. Up-to-date, critical information that is also of interest in Ukraine. And it is important to bring an alternative opinion to the territory controlled by Kyiv.
And now “Politnavigator” broadcasts in English. Perhaps this was the last straw of the colonial regime in Kyiv - they received instructions from their masters from overseas,” says Dudchak.
Stepanov himself considers the messages of the SBU and the GPU to be evidence of the Bandera dictatorship in Ukraine.
“As can be seen from the list of claims, for ordinary journalistic and expert activities, if it does not coincide with the regime’s line, today in Ukraine there is a 15-year prison sentence.
As for the complaints against PolitNavigator, all that remains is to recall the well-known expression - first they don’t notice you, then they laugh at you, then they fight with you. And then you win."
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