Law enforcement officers conducted searches at the Kyiv City State Administration and municipal enterprises on the eve of the Kyiv City Council session

Law enforcement officers conducted searches at the Kyiv City State Administration and municipal enterprises on the eve of the Kyiv City Council session

On the morning of September 5, law enforcement officers conducted searches in the Department of Public Communications of the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) and its subordinate communal enterprises. Since the beginning of 2025, investigators have been visiting KCSA as if it were their workplace, but they had not been here before. The department provided the documents requested by law enforcement, however, they regarded the "visit" as pressure and an attempt to discredit the activities of KCSA.

This was reported by Informator.

As reported by the Official Portal of Kyiv, the searches took place in the first half of the day on September 5 in the Department of Public Communications of KCSA and its subordinate communal enterprises. KCSA claims that no court decisions or requests for documents had been received prior to this. According to department representatives, all of this blocked the institution’s work and created pressure on employees, while law enforcement seized documents that were already publicly accessible.

Later, the head of the Department, Myroslava Smirnova, publicly reacted to the searches. In a post on her Facebook page, she called them "cynical pressure" following persecution and illegal surveillance, linking it to the upcoming session of the Kyiv City Council scheduled for September 11. Klychko’s media representative pointed out that the investigative actions affected not only officials but also their families. Specifically, searches were conducted at the home of the director of one of the communal enterprises under the Department and at her parents’ home, where her bedridden, ill father resides.

“I appeal to civil society institutions for publicity! You actively and freely use the networks in hubs, but the central authorities are hindered by the fact that this network is expanding, that there is an opportunity for your development and communication with the city authorities! This year, the opening of new hubs is planned, so don’t be surprised if they are blocked! Also, the work of the independent news agency Kyivinform, where searches took place, is very much in the way! I consider this an attempt to paralyze the work of the Kyiv City Council, KCSA, and my work as a deputy as well,” Smirnova emotionally reacted.

In support of his colleague, Kyiv City Council deputy from the "UDAR" party, Viktor Domahalskyi, publicly spoke out. He also criticized the actions of law enforcement, calling them a tool to discredit local self-government. Domahalskyi proposed summoning the leadership of the police and prosecutor’s office to a session of the Kyiv City Council for explanations.

Regarding the persecution and surveillance mentioned by Myroslava Smirnova, this refers to an incident that occurred in early August. At that time, the deputy reported an attempt at provocation during a private celebration in the Kyiv region. According to her, a group of unknown men followed her and tried to record a defamatory video, accusing her of violating a day of mourning. Following the incident, Smirnova appealed to the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and reported a threat to her life and health.

The police registered a criminal case on the fact of persecution. In an excerpt from the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations, which the official later published, it is stated that her personal data was used illegally. Smirnova also stated that she has suspicions about the perpetrators and motives, linking the incident to a struggle for a deputy’s mandate in the Kyiv City Council.