Figures in "Carthage" discussed attack on journalist Bihus: "Douse him with acid, and he’ll be f#cking unpresentable"
Members of a drug syndicate linked to the U420 chain of shops discussed an acid attack on journalist Denys Bihus, as well as physical attacks on blogger Ihor Lachenkov (Lachen), the PRO:KYIV editorial team and a veteran who organised protests against the chain.
This is detailed in NABU’s investigation as part of Operation Carthage, Censor.NET reports.
Who is "Mexican"?
According to NABU, one of the individuals implicated in the case, identified in the materials as "Mexican", owned shops in the controversial U420 chain. According to the Bureau, he is a Russian citizen who fled to Ukraine after being placed on a wanted list in 2016 and founded and led the transnational Khimprom drug cartel.
NABU alleges that the U420 chain sold narcotic substances, mixing them with other compounds to technically circumvent the law. To keep the business operating in the event of legislative changes that could ban the formulation, "Mexican" approached another individual implicated in the case, nicknamed "Criminal". According to the Bureau, the latter holds a stake in U420 and receives a share of its turnover. "Mexican" asked him to bribe a minister.
In the recordings released by NABU, the minister is identified only by the initial K. NABU quotes "Criminal":
According to the Bureau, those involved were prepared to bribe not only the minister but other influential people as well. However, the plan could not be implemented because of Bihus.Info’s journalistic investigation.
Plans concerning Bihus: from "making a deal" to threats
According to NABU, "Mexican" suggested trying to "make a deal" with journalist Denys Bihus and, if he refused, threatening him and resorting to physical attacks.
In intercepted conversations released by the Bureau, "Mexican" said:
"About Bihus, I don’t get why everyone’s shitting themselves, f###, saying he’s protected by the Americans, by ### and so on. I think people are imagining it, yeah. I mean, maybe they are f###ing grant leeches, but this idea that if we f### them up, half the world will f###ing jump to their defence — I think people are imagining that."
In another excerpt, he discusses attacking the journalist:
"Let me f### him up, for f###’s sake, because if this rat doesn’t film something about us today, he will in six months. But f###ing douse him with acid, and he’ll be f###ing unpresentable."
Lachen, PRO:KYIV and a veteran
According to NABU, those implicated in the case also discussed attacks on other people and organisations that took an interest in the U420 chain following the journalistic investigation.
Blogger Ihor Lachenkov (Lachen) and the media outlet PRO:KYIV are mentioned. In the transcript, "Mexican" asks: "There’s this Lachen and PRO:KYIV. Can I f### them up, or will that cause an uproar too?"
Another potential target was a veteran and defender of Mariupol who had survived Russian captivity and organised protests against the chain. The transcript contains the following remarks about him:
"The only downside is that, f###, he was in captivity. They’re planning protests tomorrow, to smash up five shops. I’m thinking of splashing acid in his f###ing face. What do you think? Or just f### him up with hammers somewhere. What do you think would cause less of an outcry — hammers or acid?"
Those implicated describe the searches subsequently carried out at the chain’s shops as "a show for Bihus, for the public, for journalists". According to NABU, law enforcement officers notified the criminal organisation of the searches in advance.
Background
- Earlier, NABU reported that a senior SSU official was threatening to use a weapon and obstructing a search.
- The Bureau subsequently said that NABU and SAPO had exposed a criminal organisation that systematically bribed senior officials in the SSU, National Police and prosecutor’s offices in exchange for "protection" for fraudulent call centres and other illegal businesses.
- NABU said it had exposed a criminal organisation whose members had established a system of regular bribes to senior law enforcement officials to allow fraudulent call centres and other illegal businesses to operate unhindered.
