Artem Shylo named coordinator of illegal surveillance of journalists: NABU opens criminal proceedings — up to 7 years of imprisonment under the Criminal Code of Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine — The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has officially opened criminal proceedings regarding the alleged illegal surveillance of journalists, in which Artem Shylo is named as the alleged coordinator of the collection of personal information about media representatives, sources reported. According to the provisions of Ukrainian criminal legislation, such actions — if they are classified as violations of the inviolability of correspondence and journalists’ personal information — may entail punishment of up to 7 years of imprisonment.
UA.NEWS also notes that Shylo had previously received a notice of suspicion from state authorities in another major corruption case related to “Ukrzaliznytsia.”
People’s Deputy Yaroslav Yurchyshyn reported that criminal proceedings regarding the illegal surveillance of journalists against Artem Shylo have been officially opened. According to him, the Solomiansky District Police Department of the city of Kyiv began the investigation following a parliamentary appeal concerning the collection of personal information about journalists within the framework of the so-called “Midas case.”
On his Facebook page, Yurchyshyn criticized the delayed reaction of law enforcement agencies, noting that factual evidence of surveillance had been publicly presented earlier at a meeting of the Temporary Investigative Commission (TIC); however, criminal proceedings were initiated only after public pressure and official appeals.
In his statement, Yurchyshyn emphasized that in a democratic state — especially under wartime conditions — any interference in the work of independent media must provoke an immediate response from the authorities, since journalists play a key role in countering both internal and external threats.
The investigation materials against Shylo contain allegations that the preparation of so-called “files” on journalists included the collection of confidential information, details of private life, and professional activities of well-known media figures.
Among the journalists about whom, according to UA.NEWS reports, information was collected are Marina Ansiforova, Yuriy Butusov, Volodymyr Fedorin, Yuriy Nikolov, Stanislav Rechynskyi, Olha Chaika, Andrii Kulykov, as well as the already deceased Volodymyr Mostovyi and Oleksii Shalayskyi.
According to UA.NEWS, the epicenter of the scandal also includes the wife of Artem Shylo — Iryna Shylo. Journalists suggest that she may have been involved in money laundering through a network of beauty salons, Studio 365, in Kyiv.
Earlier, an appeal upheld a 9-year prison sentence for Artem Shylo’s lawyer.
The Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) upheld the verdicts in the case concerning extortion and receipt of a USD 36,000 bribe for the return of money and property seized during a search. The sentences remained unchanged:
• former head of the investigative department of the State Tax Inspectorate in Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi District, Serhii Novachuk — 10 years and confiscation;
• his former subordinate Oleksandr Stoianov — 9 years and confiscation;
• lawyer Artem Shylo — 9 years and a ban on practicing law.
All three were taken into custody directly in the courtroom.
According to journalist Yuriy Butusov, after being exposed by NABU, Novachuk worked for some time in the tax service and even received a promotion. Most of his property is registered in the names of relatives. Stoianov also remained within the State Fiscal Service system until 2021.
