Bankova St. to Security Service: “grass” here
During the “joint session” of the Yeliashkevych commission and three presidential candidates, Hryhory Omelchenko showed the press a document which, if made public in a civilized country, would in all probability have the effect of a bombshell and bring along a series of resounding scandalous resignations and a change at the top.
Security Service (SBU) Chairman Leonid Derkach sends to the First Assistant to the President of Ukraine Mr. Lytvyn a memorandum “On the Situation in the Information Sphere of the Mykolayiv Region” classified as “Top Secret. Private.” In this specimen of the best traditions of a communist regime, Ukraine's chief “secret policeman” “grasses” to a high-placed clerk about which Mykolayiv media the President can surely rely upon — from the Inter national TV channel to local newspapers. He also discloses which local TV channels should be lured, reports that “some” journalists “lean toward Marchuk and Moroz,” and says in which publications the headquarters of these candidates display a “certain” commercial interest, thus expanding the opportunities for election canvassing...
Yevhen Marchuk did not conceal his surprise: Mr.Derkach must know very well which official secrets are guarded under “Top secret. Private” classification. Is this a question of the interests of the state? This can only be a question of total political surveillance involving the secret services. And the latter know they are “sinning,” so they drew the veil of secrecy with such a classification.
Oleksandr Tkachenko, known for his strictness in official hierarchy, could not grasp it at all: “How on earth could they downgrade their office? The SBU head reports to a presidential assistant! The tail wagging the dog!”
Does it mean that lots of TV studios are being closed down in other regions, particularly in Crimea, after similar SBU “warnings”? And in other places, newspapers, already on their last legs, have to wind up?
Since Mr. Omelchenko announced his information during the session of the Yeliashkevych commission in the heavy presence of the press and representatives of embassies and international organizations, the authorities will hardly manage to slur over the scandal, in spite of this country's information space being seized by them. As Mr. Omelchenko said, he and his associate Anatoly Yermak have sent, via a SBU deputy chief, a piece of advice to Mr. Derkach — as an officer to an officer: after such things are made public, one must commit suicide if one has at least some vestiges of honor, but “we recommend Derkach not to do so, but offer his resignation.”
During the “joint session” of the Yeliashkevych commission and three presidential candidates, Hryhory Omelchenko showed the press a document which, if made public in a civilized country, would in all probability have the effect of a bombshell and bring along a series of resounding scandalous resignations and a change at the top.
Security Service (SBU) Chairman Leonid Derkach sends to the First Assistant to the President of Ukraine Mr. Lytvyn a memorandum “On the Situation in the Information Sphere of the Mykolayiv Region” classified as “Top Secret. Private.” In this specimen of the best traditions of a communist regime, Ukraine's chief “secret policeman” “grasses” to a high-placed clerk about which Mykolayiv media the President can surely rely upon — from the Inter national TV channel to local newspapers. He also discloses which local TV channels should be lured, reports that “some” journalists “lean toward Marchuk and Moroz,” and says in which publications the headquarters of these candidates display a “certain” commercial interest, thus expanding the opportunities for election canvassing...
Yevhen Marchuk did not conceal his surprise: Mr.Derkach must know very well which official secrets are guarded under “Top secret. Private” classification. Is this a question of the interests of the state? This can only be a question of total political surveillance involving the secret services. And the latter know they are “sinning,” so they drew the veil of secrecy with such a classification.
Oleksandr Tkachenko, known for his strictness in official hierarchy, could not grasp it at all: “How on earth could they downgrade their office? The SBU head reports to a presidential assistant! The tail wagging the dog!”
Does it mean that lots of TV studios are being closed down in other regions, particularly in Crimea, after similar SBU “warnings”? And in other places, newspapers, already on their last legs, have to wind up?
Since Mr. Omelchenko announced his information during the session of the Yeliashkevych commission in the heavy presence of the press and representatives of embassies and international organizations, the authorities will hardly manage to slur over the scandal, in spite of this country's information space being seized by them. As Mr. Omelchenko said, he and his associate Anatoly Yermak have sent, via a SBU deputy chief, a piece of advice to Mr. Derkach — as an officer to an officer: after such things are made public, one must commit suicide if one has at least some vestiges of honor, but “we recommend Derkach not to do so, but offer his resignation.”
Newspaper output №:
№29, (1999)Section
Day After Day
