The Prosecutor-General's Office (PGO) has asked the Ukrainian parliament for permission to investigate MP Oleksandr Ponomaryov of the People's Will group, PGO press secretary Larysa Sarhan has said on Facebook.He is facing charges under Article 171 Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine over the over the obstruction of journalists' professional activities.
The incident involving Ponomaryov and journalists of Censor.Net and Kamenyari-Info took place on 7 February 2018. The journalists used their phones to film Ponomaryov's verbal exchange with MP Serhiy Sobolyov who accused him of sabotaging the army.
Ponomaryov snatched phones from two journalists, put them in his pocket and headed out of the building.
After protests, he made some threats against the journalists but returned their phones.