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February 12, 2026 – Ukraine –
Ukrainian law enforcement authorities have initiated a criminal investigation into the alleged illegal surveillance of journalists connected to the high-profile “MIDAS case,” police and media watchdogs reported. The probe responds to complaints by media professionals who say they were unlawfully monitored by individuals linked to the suspects at the centre of the MIDAS bribery and corruption scandal.
The investigation was opened on 13 February 2026 by the Kyiv Police’s criminal investigations unit after journalists filed complaints alleging they had been subjected to unauthorised monitoring of their phones and online activity. The surveillance reportedly occurred during reporting on the MIDAS case — an ongoing legal matter involving accusations of corruption and bribery that has drawn extensive public and media interest in Ukraine.
Police confirmed that criminal proceedings have been registered under Article 163 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, which pertains to the unlawful collection and dissemination of personal data. Investigators said they will examine evidence related to the alleged surveillance, including digital tracking and interception of communications without consent, and are empowered to bring charges if wrongdoing is proven.
The initial complaints were submitted by several journalists whose reporting focused on MIDAS, a private company implicated in alleged improper influence on public officials. The journalists reported unusual behaviour, including suspicious access to their phones and emails, which they suspected was connected to affiliates of the MIDAS suspects seeking to monitor or intimidate reporters covering the controversy.
Representatives of the Institute of Mass Information (IMI), a Ukrainian media freedom watchdog that supported the complaints, welcomed the police action, saying it signals a willingness by authorities to uphold journalists’ rights and combat efforts to impede independent reporting. IMI emphasised the importance of protecting reporters from unlawful monitoring, especially in cases involving powerful private interests or allegations of wrongdoing.
Police also acknowledged they have begun securing digital evidence, including logs from telecommunications providers and device metadata, to build a case. Officers indicated they would coordinate with cybercrime specialists to trace any alleged unauthorised access to communication devices and to establish whether the surveillance constituted criminal conduct under Ukrainian law.
The development comes amid broader concerns over press freedom and journalist safety in Ukraine, where media workers covering corruption, politics, and conflict have faced legal pressures, intimidation, and physical risk. Advocates said that bringing unlawful surveillance to light and pursuing accountability is essential not only for those journalists involved but also for setting legal safeguards for press independence and privacy protections.
Authorities have not yet named any suspects in the surveillance probe, and no arrests have been announced. Investigators said the inquiry is ongoing and that updates will be provided as the case progresses and evidence is analysed.
Reference –
Police open criminal proceedings over surveillance of journalists in the “Midas” case
