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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Part of “Dossier” Goes To Ground

21 September, 1999 - 00:00

“When preparing a regular release, 09.09.99, some video material was used behind my back that had nothing to do with the topic. As a result, a decent and respectable family suffered. I consider that this cast a shadow on my journalistic dignity. I object to this program being used by anyone, my direct superiors included, as a tool to settle certain political problems. I find working under such conditions unacceptable, and for this reason I am quitting the program.”

Confidential sources told The Day that UT-1's “Dossier” will not go off the air despite its host's resignation, although it is anyone's guess who will replace him, most likely as a puppet on strings being pulled upstairs, reading texts written by others and playing video cassettes brought from outside.

In fact, Mr. Nesterenko related an open secret in his statement (it was also read out in 1+1's TSN news release), namely that most of the material used by “Dossier” does not belong to the program's authors but is supplied by law enforcement authorities. It is also alleged that Andriy Derkach, one of the “owners” of the Era TV Company and authors of “Dossier”, is directly involved in this. On that particular occasion “Dossier” most likely fell into its own trap, playing a tape (simply because the staff journalists and editors did not know what was happening) brought from the law enforcement archives and not meant for the general public.

It is hard to say whether what happened was a coincidence or planned, yet there is information that the program's authors have received death threats. Incidentally, The Day could not get in touch with any of them. It seems like they thought it best to go to the ground.

As for what has been going on at the current President's election headquarters, no logic can explain it. Misunderstandings, squabbles, even open confrontations, as perhaps in the case with Pinchuk's team attacking Volkov's Gravis, are best described as selling the skin before shooting the bear. The whole thing has a distinct odor. Fear to lose everything — which is sure to happen after the President is replaced in October — makes Mr. Kuchma's entourage resort to controversial and uncoordinated actions. As a result, the Bankova Street team, seemingly omnipotent, is aging with each passing day.

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