Mykola Tomenko: The General Prosecution shall interfere into the Case on Intrusion into the Premises of Znannia Society
Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, sent an appeal to Viktor Pshonka, Prosecutor General of Ukraine, concerning situation on intrusion into the premises of Znannia society in the center of the capital of Ukraine.
In his appeal, M. Tomenko emphasised that although Znannia society has always paid the lease fees on time, in 2008, 2,5 years before the lease termination, the premises in 10 Prorizna St. were illegally sold to the private entity. The Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine also stated that during the sale, the Law of Ukraine "On Temporary Ban on Privatization of Cultural Inheritance" was violated. To protect its rights, Znannia society appealed to court concerning invalidation of the sale and purchase agreement. The Economic Court in Lviv allowed the appeal on 20.05.2010. Later, the given decision, was supported and preserved in force by the resolution of the Supreme Court of Ukraine.
Still, according to the mass media, on January 24, 2011, the premises of Znannia society were seized by an unknown individual. The personnel was not able to go to their working places, so the activity of the editors office was interrupted, which can be regarded as infringement upon the freedom of media and personal property of the journalists.
Considering these facts, M. Tomenko appealed to the Prosecutor General with a request to investigate the situation.