According to released recordings, members of a criminal organization planned an attack on investigative journalist Denys Bigus due to his material on the chain of stores U420. This information was provided by NABU in the case known as "Carthage".
Discussion of Possible Attacks
The recordings reveal that the members of the criminal organization discussed various methods of retaliation against the journalist. Specifically, they talked about:
- beating the journalist;
- threats;
- the possibility of throwing acid in Bigus's face to make him "unpresentable";
- inviting the journalist abroad under the pretext of a fictitious exhibition.
Connection to Drug Syndicate
According to the investigation, the criminal organization controlled dozens of fraudulent call centers and was linked to the drug syndicate "Khimprom". This network used the U420 stores to distribute prohibited substances while disguising their activities as legitimate products. Involvement in this business was attributed to the leader of the Russian drug cartel, known by the alias "Mexican".
Reactions from Journalists and Society
Journalists and activists engaged in investigations express concern for the safety of their colleagues. They believe that such threats could have serious implications for freedom of speech in Ukraine. It is noted that similar cases require urgent responses from law enforcement to ensure the protection of journalists and prevent such crimes in the future.