Ukrainian law enforcement has arrested a man suspected of setting fire to the car used by the journalists of Schemes, the investigative unit of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Ukraine.
“The attackers’ clothes, incendiary devices and other evidence were seized. Searches continue,” Interior Minister Arsen Avakov wrote, announcing the arrest on Twitter.
On the night of Aug. 17, an unknown individual set the car on fire near the home of Schemes’ driver.
After the arson attack, investigative journalist Mykhailo Tkach, a member of the Schemes team, wrote on Facebook that he believed the State Security Administration had been following them.
“During the filming… I repeatedly stated that our car and we ourselves were being surveilled by employees of the State Security Administration,” he wrote.
Natalia Sedletska, editor-in-chief of Schemes, suggested on Facebook that Andriy Portnov, a lawyer and former deputy head of the administration of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, could be involved in the attack.
She said Portnov had revealed the personal data of the driver in November 2019 to put pressure on the team, which was investigating his ties with the current government.
“Therefore, it’s obvious to me: The arson is connected to our professional journalistic activity, which someone really dislikes,” Sedletska wrote.
Portnov denied involvement in the arson attack and demanded a public apology from Schemes.
The arson attack is not the first harassment that journalists at Schemes have faced for their work.
Previously, on Aug. 7, Tkach discovered a tiny hole drilled in his kitchen ceiling. The police subsequently uncovered three drilled holes covered up with what looked like a fresh layer of plaster in the attic above the apartment.
The journalist and his colleagues considered the holes to be evidence that surveillance devices had been installed, but law enforcement authorities have not identified or detained any suspects yet.
Tkach’s reporting has often cast a spotlight on secrecy and alleged corruption by top officials.
Tkach recently co-authored a story on how cars and motorcades carrying Zelensky, ex-President Petro Poroshenko and other powerful people routinely break traffic laws to get around traffic jams.
He was involved in reporting a story showing how Denys Yermak, the brother of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, allegedly attempted to sell state positions.
Tkach also blew the whistle on many meetings that Zelensky tried to conceal with oligarchs like Ihor Kolomoisky and Victor Pinchuk and controversial ex-officials like Valeriy Khoroshkovsky.
