After the introduction of sanctions against the MP, Chairman of the Political Council of the Opposition Platform - For Life Party Viktor Medvedchuk, Ukrainian authorities announced the return of the Samara-Western Direction oil product pipeline to the state, which, according to some media reports, is also associated with the opposition politician. Medvedchuk’s office denied this information. The news agency Reuters writes about this.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s office said the pipeline officially had two owners registered abroad but was “affiliated with two citizens of Ukraine”.
“Having considered this issue, the National Security and Defence Council decided to take urgent measures to return the state property to the people of Ukraine. Law enforcement agencies are also tasked with investigating the circumstances in which state property fell into private hands,” the news agency quoted Zelenskiy’s office statement.
In turn, the Opposition Platform - For Life Party denied information about Medvedchuk's involvement in this oil product pipeline, stating that neither the parliamentarian nor his family members had and have nothing to do with the said asset, as well as with the supply and sale of diesel fuel and liquefied gas. This is confirmed by the decision made by the Supreme Court of Ukraine.
The international news agency also writes about the reaction of Viktor Medvedchuk's office to the sanctions against their leader and other party members.
"A statement from Medvedchuk’s party on Facebook said: “Today, Ukraine is one step closer to becoming a dictatorship,” Reuters writes.
As we reported earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree which put into effect the decisions of the National Security and Defense Council to impose sanctions against eight people - among them the chairman of the political council of the Opposition Platform - For Life party Viktor Medvedchuk and his wife Oksana Marchenko.
On February 2, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on the application of sanctions against the TV channels 112 Ukraine, NewsOne, and Zik. According to the decree, which came into force from the moment of signing, sanctions were applied to TV channels for five years. This provides for blocking the broadcasting of all three TV channels.
112 Ukraine, NewsOne, and ZiK regard the imposition of sanctions as a political reprisal against objectionable media.