Tatyana Chernovol: from a journalist to the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:55

People make a name for themselves in different ways. Someone with unparalleled work, someone with a military feat, someone with a scientific discovery. The political path can also bring fame, an example of this is Tatyana Chernovol.

The beginning of a journalistic and political career

Chernovol Tatyana Nikolaevna was born in the capital of Ukraine Kyiv in 1979, June 4th. Like most advanced school graduates, the girl decided to get a higher education. True, she chose an educational institution not from simple ones - the International Institute of Linguistics and Law, she studied at the Faculty of Journalism. Even before entering the university, she began working in the Companion magazine. Then she combined her studies with work. Wrote articles in the "Questions of the week" section. Tatyana Chernovol graduated from the university in 2001.

While studying at the institute, the girl became interested in politics. In 1996, she joined the radical national party known as UNA-UNSO. Since 1999, she has acted as a spokeswoman for this organization on a voluntary basis.

Politics took over her entirely

At that time, there were no high-profile events in the political life of Ukraine,therefore, journalist Tatyana Chernovol showed active activity in covering the struggle of the Chechen people in the self-proclaimed Republic of Ichkeria. She headed the information center of the Chechen Republic, which was created in Kyiv with the assistance of Aslan Maskhadov. Tatyana Chernovol and her husband even went to Chechnya to collect material.

A young political activist participated in the activities of the Center for the Rehabilitation of Chechen Refugees, which was called the "Free Caucasus", of the UNA-UNSO committee.

Extraordinary deeds

After graduating from high school, Chernovol worked as a journalist in the Politics and Culture magazine. And political passions worried her very much.

Tatyana Chernovol becomes an active participant in the movement "Ukraine without Kuchma". Her biography is replenished with extraordinary facts. In 2001, on the tracks of the Kyiv-Passazhirsky station, she and her friend held a political demonstration: shortly before the train arrived, they chained themselves to the rails, similarly protesting against the imprisonment of some members of the UNA-UNSO.

T. Chernovol did not recognize halftones in the political struggle, therefore, when the party soon agreed to negotiate with the authorities, she left its ranks, regarding this as a betrayal.

Investigative journalism by Tatyana Chernovol

Since 2005, the journalist began working in the Obozrevatel media holding and devoted herself to investigating corruption. Later she was published in the publications "Ukrainian Truth" and "Left Bank".

Most of herrevealing investigations concerned politicians and businessmen. Her materials about famous people had a loud response: Azarov, Klyuev, Zakharchenko and others.

Many of Tatyana Chernovol's investigations were connected with provocations, denials, courts. For example, the Ukrainian MP Rinat Akhmetov filed a lawsuit in the London Supreme Court against Obozrevatel for false information about him in a number of articles by T. Chernovol.

Attempt to become an MP

In 2012, during the parliamentary elections, Tatyana Chernovol ran for constituency No. 120 (Lviv region) from the Batkivshchyna party. The interests of the journalist were lobbied by Sergei Pashinsky, deputy chairman of the parliamentary faction of this party.

However, during the election campaign, there were so many scandals around the candidate for deputy T. Chernovol that it played no longer to her advantage, but to her detriment. As a result, she lost the election.

Active actions of Tatyana Chernovol

T. Chernovol's intransigence towards the current government and President Viktor Yanukovych was especially evident in 2012 and 2013. The journalist moved to action.

In August 2012, the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada approved the draft law "On the principles of the state language policy." Immediately, the draft was sent for signature to Viktor Yanukovych. Tatyana Chornovol on the road leading to the presidential residence in Mezhhirya made an inscription: “Yanukovych, language is your sentence. Don't sign!" The journalist was taken to the police station and a case was opened. Howeverthe court acquitted her.

Some time later, another protest was held by Tatiana Chernovol. Mezhgorye still interested her. She entered his territory and took several pictures on her mobile phone. Then I posted them for everyone to see.

In August 2013, journalist Tatyana Chernovol again attracted the attention of the public, whose biography is full of interesting facts. Together with several activists of the Save the Old Kyiv movement, she came to protest against the holding of a session of the Kyiv City Council, the term of which ended more than two months ago. Other activists were arrested, and T. Chornovol climbed onto the ledge of the building. To remove it from there, I had to call the employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. For this trick, the journalist was fined.

Suffered for the truth?

In the last few years, information about assassination attempts on T. Chernovol has periodically appeared in the media. When she was a candidate for deputies, she was doused with water-based paint. It happened right in the elevator at home. Photos of the victim were immediately released to the general public.

In December 2013, the beating of Tatyana Chernovol became the topic of the day not only for Ukrainian and Russian-speaking, but also for foreign media. Horrible pictures of a Maidan activist severely beaten near Boryspil were shocking. Even Viktor Yanukovych instructed to conduct a thorough investigation of this case. An investigation began and the suspects were arrested. According to Tatyana herself, her beating is connected with vigorous activity in exposingcorruption in the highest state bodies.

Is everything all right with he alth?

In the press on this issue, you can find different opinions. The prevailing information is that Tatyana Chernovol suffers from some mental disorders. The journalist herself denies this fact.

However, there are opinions that Tatyana Chernovol still has mental disorders, a certificate from a psychiatrist seems to confirm this.

Doctors say that a patient with such a diagnosis is characterized by an excessive reaction to external stimuli, impulsiveness, thoughtlessness of actions, he cannot adequately assess his actions.

Marital status

T. Chernovol is married to Nikolai Berezov. He graduated from the Kyiv International Housing and Communal University. The young people met, being members of the UNA-UNSO, both were distinguished by high political activity. We traveled together to Chechnya to collect material.

Nikolay Berezovoy is a member of Vitali Klitschko's UDAR political party and heads its branch in Gorlovka. His candidacy was nominated by UDAR in 2012 during the elections to the Verkhovna Rada.

The couple have two children: daughter Ivanna born in 2003 and son Ustim born in 2010.

Establishment of the Anti-Corruption Bureau

The creation of the bureau has been talked about for a long time. However, real progress towards concrete actions appeared at the beginning of 2013, when Arseniy Yatsenyuk got down to business. Not startedonly discussions, discussions, but also preparation of the bill. In May, the bill was voted down in parliament, because it was defended by the opposition.

After the victory of the Maidan and the formation of a new government, this case was launched. On March 5, 2014, journalist Tatyana Chernovol became the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, because it is she who is known in Ukraine as an ardent supporter of investigations into the abuses of officials close to power. Officially, her position is called “Commissioner of the Government of Ukraine for Anti-Corruption Policy.”

In her new post, Tatyana Chernovol has developed a vigorous activity aimed at combating corruption. Based on the results of work for the first two weeks, the bureau uncovered two corruption schemes. One of them concerned the activities of the State Architectural and Construction Control (GASK). The second scheme was aimed at monopolizing the appraisal activity market, as a result, the work of the State Property Fund was taken under control. The Anti-Corruption Bureau handed over the collected materials on these cases to law enforcement agencies and intends to control the course of the investigation.

However, although Tatyana Chernovol tried to start active work in a new position, she has not yet been able to turn around properly. After all, the draft law on the activities of the Anti-Corruption Bureau has not yet been adopted. And it is felt that more than one spear will be broken over him.