The owner of the Ukrainian TV channel «112.Ukraina», Andrey Podschipkov said that he had asked for a political asylum in Belgium due to the ‘political pressure’ in the country.

Previously, the channel «112.Ukraina» reported the constant pressure from the authorities and political manipulation about the issue of its sale. On Monday, the Ukrainian media reported the statement of the MP of the Verkhovnaya Rada, Alexander Onischenko, suspected of embezzlement of state property in Ukraine, that the President Poroshenko had allegedly tried to have him buy the channel.

Podschipkov informed the edition «Media Detector» that he had submitted an application for a political asylum at the beginning of the year, now the document is pending.

‘However, later Podschipkov’s lawyers persuaded him to apply for a refugee status in Brussels where he lives,’ says the edition.

The TV channel «112.Ukraina» is an information channel which began broadcasting in November 2013. One version of the Ukrainian mass media says that 100% of the shares of the channel belongs to its owner and CEO Podschipkov. Some of the media call the former Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Vitaliy Zakharchenko its real owner.

According to: RIA