Statement of 1+1 media in connection with the statements of People's Deputy from BPP Oleg Barna

Yesterday, October 2, 2018, People's Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada Oleg Barna, who represents the Petro Poroshenko Bloc faction, made obscene and homophobic remarks to a journalist of the 1+1 TV channel after the fact of his button-pushing was recorded (video at the link ) . And already today, in response to the comments of outraged journalists, the elected official made a loud statement regarding the nationalization of businesses, the shareholder of which is Ihor Kolomoiskyi. According to the BPP representative, "we have returned PrivatBank, if necessary, we will nationalize Bukovel and channels 1+1."

The 1+1 media group is convinced that such statements from a member of the legislative body and a representative of the political power of the president of a modern democratic country that is moving towards European integration are not only unacceptable, but also dangerous. We remember mass nationalization in the Soviet Union, we see how enterprises in the so-called "DPR" and "LPR" are appropriated. It is not clear who exactly Oleg Barna is addressing in the Verkhovna Rada, generalizing "we", and what norms the lawmaker is guided by.

"Journalists 1+1 have never bowed to anyone, and the threat "remember your future, who you will work for" from a member of the presidential faction requires, at least, an assessment from his colleagues. After all, this is a threat from a deputy of the ruling political force. Therefore, we are waiting for an appropriate and responsible reaction from the presidential faction and the Verkhovna Rada, which would really demonstrate European parliamentary values, not in words, but in deeds. Namely, the expulsion of Oleg Barna from the faction and the deprivation of his deputy mandate," commented Oleksandr Tkachenko, general director of 1+1 media.