SBU: pro-Russian blogger Anatoly Shariy detained in Spain

The Ukrainian Security Service reported that pro-Russian Ukrainian blogger Anatoly Shariy was detained in Spain. The SBU statement said that this happened as a result of a multi-level special operation by Ukrainian law enforcement officers. The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine and international partners took part in it.

Ukrainian special services accuse Shariy of high treason and violation of the equality of citizens depending on their race, nationality, religious beliefs, disability and other characteristics. According to the SBU, he carried out illegal activities to the detriment of Ukraine’s national security in the information sphere.

“There is reason to believe that Anatoly Shariy acted on orders from foreign structures,” the SBU said in a statement.

Updated : Shariy was released on his own recognizance. From Madrid he is going to return home to Catalonia, where he will wait for the extradition process to be considered, reports the head of the European bureau of VGTRK Anastasia Popova.

Shariy is known for his criticism of the Ukrainian media and government, and his party, the Shariy Party, is officially positioned as libertarian. In February 2021, he was charged with treason. According to the investigation, since 2012, the blogger has helped “state and non-governmental structures of Russia in conducting special information operations.” In particular, he allegedly “engaged in discrediting the state policy of Ukraine, deliberately and purposefully disseminated manipulative, distorted information about government initiatives and events in the Donbass.” The SBU emphasizes that these actions were actively used by Russian state media - “Russia 24”, “Russia 1”, “Zvezda” and others.