Results of the meeting of the Committee on Freedom of Speech

13 October 2026 held a meeting of Комітету Верховної Ради Ukraine on freedom of speech, during which the state of pre-trial investigation of criminal proceedings on threats to journalists of the publication «Бабель» and the journalist Анні Калюжній, as well as the protection of the rights of Ukrainian journalists abroad was considered.

The meeting was attended by journalists Анна Калюжна and Катерина Коберник, representatives of the Офісу Генерального prosecutor, the National Police of Ukraine and 425 of the «Скеля» separate assault regiment.

The Committee heard information about the progress of the pre-trial investigation of criminal proceedings on threats against journalists of the publication «Бабель» in connection with the publication of materials on the activities of the 425 soldiers of the separate assault regiment «Скеля».

It was reported that 8 September 2026 year materials of criminal proceedings were transferred from the State Bureau of Investigation to the Main Directorate of the National Police in Dnipropetrovsk region. Within the framework of the investigation, the applicants were questioned - the editor-in-chief of the «Бабель» Катерину Коберник and the journalist Катерину Лихогляд, video materials were examined and forensic testing was assigned.

During the discussion, a question was raised about the conclusions of the expert study, which failed to clearly identify the person to whom the statements with signs of threats were directed.

Representatives of the 425th separate assault regiment «Скеля» assured of their readiness to contribute to the pre-trial investigation and stressed their interest in its speedy and objective completion.

As a result of the discussion, the Committee decided to return to the consideration of this issue in December 2026 to assess the further progress of the investigation. In addition, the Committee initiated a round table with representatives of the journalistic community, judicial and law enforcement agencies to discuss standards for reporting crimes and preventing the transfer of responsibility for the actions of individuals to the military unit as a whole.

It was also decided to appeal to the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine to verify the qualifications of the forensic expert who provided an opinion in the said proceedings.

Окремо Комітет reviewed the state of pre-trial investigation of criminal proceedings on the facts of obstruction of legitimate professional activities and threats against the journalist Анни Калюжної in connection with her professional activities and publications about violations in assault units.

Representatives of law enforcement agencies informed about the course of investigation and conduct of procedural actions in the regions where persons involved in the relevant episodes are established.

In particular, in Mykolaiv region 1 October 2026 year one of the persons was notified of suspicion. According to law enforcement officers, by the end of October it is planned to direct the relevant criminal proceedings to the court. In Odessa region, they are waiting for the results of expert research to resolve the issue of notification of suspicion.

Анна Калюжна stressed the systemic nature of threats, in particular, threats of murder and violence, and the need for a comprehensive investigation of all relevant episodes. It also raised the issue of combining criminal proceedings into one proceeding.

As a result of the consideration, the Committee decided to support the appeal of the protection of the journalist and appeal to the Офісу Генерального prosecutor on the expediency of combining the relevant criminal proceedings.

The Committee also plans to continue consideration of this issue at the next meeting.

As part of the issue of «Різне», Committee members discussed the incident with the detention of representatives of the publication «Українська правда» in Austria.

In order to further study this issue, the Committee decided to contact the Верховної Ради України committees on foreign policy and inter-parliamentary cooperation and on Ukraine’s integration into Європейського Союзу, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in order to hold a joint discussion on the incident and protect the rights of Ukrainian journalists abroad.

The Committee on Freedom of Expression continues to focus on protecting the rights of journalists, responding appropriately to threats and impeding their professional activities, and ensuring that relevant offences are effectively investigated.