Khoroshkovskyi Brought the Scandal with the Rector to "a Technology"
UKRAINSKA PRAVDA, May 31, 2010
The head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Valerii Khoroshkovskyi admits that the conflict with the rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University is a technology of destabilization.
He said this in an interview to "Komersant-Ukraine" commenting upon the letter of the rector of the Catholic University in Lviv Borys Gudziak, where he accuses the SBU of putting pressure on the university through a request to warn students about the responsibility for participating in protests.
“Prevention of crimes is a sacred duty of any law enforcrmrnt agency. So when we receive an information about instigation to illegal acts and evidence, then the only thing we want to do and, by the way, will always do, is try to protect the students’ environment by disengaging them from these processes,” said Khoroshkovskyi.
The fact that SBU’s official met with the rector shortly before a visit of President Viktor Yanukovych to Lviv, according to him, is connected only "to some extent – the timing of the meeting and the visit was a coincidence.”
"Our prevention work is not connected with the visits of the higher officials. Although, I agree, the visit of the head of state in Lviv could be a motive for some political forces," the head of the SBU noticed.
Noting that the rector’s indignation was caused not so much by a preventive conversation as by the fact that he was required to sign some documents, Khoroshkovskyi said: "The SBU official believed that by doing so he would provide evidence that he has done his job well, so I don’t see any problems: the rector did not want to sign – and that is his right.”
“Generally speaking, don’t you think that this situation is slightly exaggerated and reminiscent of some technology? I have the deepest respect to the professionals in any field, in this case to the rector of the university, and I am sincerely ready to explain to him the position of the service. But, I emphasize, no one and nothing will prevent the Security Service from doing its work; this is ruled out,” the chief of the service declared.
“We will use everything that makes up the toolbox of the SBU and is useful for the state. That is why I am not going to recede or cave in – I guarantee it one hundred percent,” Khoroshkovskyi promised.
“I was not present at the conversation, I do not know what has been said and what words have been used, though, as far as I know, this agent was acquainted with Mr. Gudziak and met him a few times. I do not know why the conflict arose exactly now,” he added.
Answering the question, what, in his opinion, is the purpose of such technology, the head of SSU said, that now he sees "a few technological lines, which are realized by opponents of stabilization processes occurring in the state.”
“In particular, a line with a conditional name ‘restriction of freedom of speech’ and linking the SBU to restriction of individual freedom... This doesn’t sound right. Once again I want to emphasize: we will be very tolerant and open, but we have our own duties and we will fulfill them rigidly,” declared Khoroshkovskyi.
He named the freedom “a necessary attribute of development” and assured that the SBU will not put pressure on the press.
Translated by RISU
