The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has served in absentia a notice of suspicion on Yevhen Muraiev, a member of the Ukrainian parliament of the VII and VIII convocations and the owner of the blocked Nash [Ours] TV channel.

Source: Security Service of Ukraine; Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine; Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office

Quote from the Prosecutor’s Office: "The former member of the parliament created and disseminated destructive propaganda on the TV channel under his control [Nash - ed.], as well as on the YouTube video hosting channels, in which he expressed pro-Russian views, and also repeatedly participated in various political shows to fulfil tasks set by the Russian overseers.

In these speeches and interviews, the suspect spread Russian narratives that there is a ‘culture war and persecution of dissidents’ in Ukraine, promoting ideas aimed at discrediting the independence of our state and the need to fulfil agreements with the Russian Federation.

... Based on the conclusion of a complex forensic psychological and linguistic examination, the suspect's speeches and interviews are actions of beneficial influence that harm the security of Ukraine in the information sphere and are a form of subversive activity against Ukraine, contributing to the Russian Federation's subversive activity in the form of interference in the internal politics of Ukraine through targeted informational and psychological influence."

More details: Muraiev was served with a notice of suspicion of treason for conducting informational and subversive activities against Ukraine and for committing deliberate actions to humiliate national honour and dignity (Art. 111.1 and Art. 161.1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The sanction for the most severe article of the crimes he is charged with provides for a sentence of 12 to 15 years of imprisonment.

Previously:

• In the autumn of 2022, SSU officers conducted a series of searches at Muraiev's residences and offices. Investigative actions were carried out as part of criminal proceedings regarding high treason.

Background: 

• Shortly before the start of the full-scale invasion, the National Security and Defence Council imposed sanctions on the Nash TV channel.
• According to UP sources, Muraiev left Ukraine in May 2022.
• The UK Foreign Office stated that the Kremlin considered Muraiev a candidate for a puppet government in the event of Russia's occupation of Ukraine. Muraiev himself called this nonsense.

For reference: Yevhen Muraiev became prominent in politics in 2006. He first became a member of Kharkiv Oblast Council from the Viche [Assembly] party (now the Accent party).

After an unsuccessful attempt to enter the parliament on the list of the KUCHMA Electoral Bloc of Political Parties in 2007, Muraiev was again elected to Kharkiv Oblast Council, but this time from the Party of Regions (2010). He first entered the parliament in 2012 as a party member (constituency 181).

In 2014, Muraiev won again in constituency 181 as a self-nominated candidate. In the parliament, the politician joined the political Opposition Platform - For Life faction (the court banned this party on 8 June 2022). In 2017, Yevhen Muraiev, together with Vadym Rabinovych, began to develop the For Life party.

Muraiev was the owner of the NewsOne TV channel. In October 2018, NewsOne was bought by Taras Kozak, a close associate of Medvedchuk. Before selling the TV channel, Muraiev left the For Life party.

In November 2018, he created the Nash TV channel.

Background: Oleksandr Ponomarov, a member of the Ukrainian parliament from the banned political Opposition Platform - For Life, was served with notice of suspicion on 24 July 2023. 

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