Ukrainian court bans publication of investigative report on top official’s brother

What happened

The Kyiv Independent reports that Kyiv’s Pechersk District Court has issued a temporary ban preventing the Anti-Corruption Action Center, the media outlet Slidstvo.info, and journalist Alina Stryzhak from publishing an investigative report on Oleksandr Sukhachov, brother of Oleksiy Sukhachov, head of Ukraine’s State Investigation Bureau. The report focuses on 143 properties allegedly tied to Oleksandr Sukhachov, a businessman based in Kharkiv.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The court ruling, issued on July 6 and published on July 7 by the Anti-Corruption Action Center, is reportedly the first instance of a prepublication ban on an investigative report in Ukraine. It follows a motion filed by Parkovy-2, a company said to be linked to Oleksandr Sukhachov, which argued that publication of the report would cause significant damage, including from the irreversible spread of confidential and trade secret information.

Anti-corruption activists describe the ruling as "manifestly unlawful" and a violation of journalists’ rights and public interests under Ukrainian law and the European Convention on Human Rights. Olena Shcherban, deputy executive director at the Anti-Corruption Action Center, called the ban a continuation of pressure on independent media and investigative journalism, warning that failure to comply could lead to fines or criminal prosecution. The Anti-Corruption Center has announced plans to appeal the decision.

Known from the source

• A Kyiv court banned publication of an investigative report on the brother of Oleksiy Sukhachov, head of the State Investigation Bureau.
• The injunction was issued by Kyiv’s Pechersk District Court on July 6, 2026.
• The ban affects the Anti-Corruption Action Center, the media outlet Slidstvo.info, and journalist Alina Stryzhak.
• The investigation reportedly concerns 143 properties linked to Oleksandr Sukhachov, brother of the bureau head.
• Parkovy-2, a company allegedly linked to Oleksandr Sukhachov, filed the motion for the ban claiming potential damage from publication.

What remains unclear

The State Investigation Bureau, led by Oleksiy Sukhachov since 2022, has faced criticism of politicization since its inception in 2016. The appointment of Sukhachov as bureau head came via a contested process described as non-transparent and politicized by anti-corruption groups. This court ruling emerges amid broader concerns over media restrictions in Ukraine, including EU calls for media independence and investigations into attacks on journalists.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Official confirmation or comment from the State Investigation Bureau regarding the complaint and ban. Response from Kyiv’s Pechersk District Court explaining the legal basis for the prepublication injunction. Verification of the investigative report's content and accuracy concerning the 143 allegedly linked properties.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Kyiv Independent. Open the source.