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Editor's Note: The following is an English-language translation of a press release from Tsentr UA, which founded the CHESNO movement, about a criminal investigation of its activities. CHESNO has been active in exposing alleged corruption by President Viktor Yanukovych and within his administration. It also started the "Stop Censorship" movement to reverse anti-free speech laws and regulations that Yanukovych's administration has supported. Police and prosecutors were not available for immediate comment.

The Interior Ministry is conducting a criminal investigation regarding the civic organization Tsentr UA on suspicion of money laundering of funds acquired illegally.

Organization members found this out after they and their organizations partners were approached en masse by police officers who asked them to give testimony or come to investigators offices. On Feb. 7, the police visited at least 10 people; in addition, they know that they plan on questioning about 200 people overall. The investigation was begun on Dec. 11, but it only became active now. All the people involved for the time being are being summoned as witnesses.

The members of Tsentr UA consider this criminal investigation to be a continuation of the regimes systematic repressions against civil society.

Oleh Rybachuk, leader of the organization, said that the dicatorship laws have been repealed, but the regimes dictatorial intentions to destroy active civic organizations is taking place in other forms. He surmised that similar cases will be brought up against other organizations in the near future.

Tsentr UA is the founder of the CHESNO movement, and it has been responsible for producing the scandalous film about Mezhyhirya, Open Access, and its members have taken active participation in EuroMaidan events.

Organization members have also been cofounders of important civic initiatives: the New Citizen partnership, the Stop Censorship! movement, the coalition, For an Honest Referendum, and others.

Also, Tsentr UA not long ago began a massive project investigating personal instances of corruption among all government officials, a project coordinated with journalists from Slidstvo.info and the Svidomo office. These materials, published for Ukrainska Pravda, concerned Interior Minister Vitaly Zakharchenko in particular.

Svitlana Zalishchuk, executive director of Tsentr UA, pointed out that Tsentr UA regularly conducts an independent audit, including one required by Ukrainian laws on financial activities, and it takes pride in its transparency. We regard the criminal case as pressure and harrassment against us because of our professional activity.

The members of Tsentr UA appeal to diplomats, international organizations, and human rights organizations, and Ukrainian members of parliament to look into this pressure being put on the organization and its partners through a criminal case investigation connected with the organizations work and also call on Ukraines state organs to stop unjustified persecution of civic organizations.

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CHESNO, a leader in putting spotlight on alleged corruption, says it faces harassing criminal investigation of its ...

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is encouraging Canadian diplomats to experiment with social media to promote democratic freedom and trade across the globe.

The plan could represent a loosening of the communications leash the Harper government has placed on foreign diplomats as part of its centralized communications strategy.

Baird announced the initiative Friday in northern California as he visited the Silicon Valley headquarters of Internet search giant Google and of Twitter, where he is seeking advice on how to better use social media tools to advance Canadian foreign policy.

Diplomacy may never live up to the Silicon Valley mantra of move fast and break things, for various reasons. But in the environment of instant communication and social media, we do have to move faster and not be afraid to try new things or to make mistakes, Baird said.

Baird encouraged diplomats to take risks on social media to reach civic actors who can bring about political change in their countries.

It basically is a message to all of our diplomats, a word of encouragement to be innovative, even if it means there are risks, said a senior government official who was not authorized to speak on the record.

After coming to power in 2006, the Conservative government imposed strict communication controls on its diplomats, including ambassadors and high commissioners, requiring them to clear major public events through the Privy Council Office in Ottawa.

The Canadian Press reported this week that bureaucrats at Industry Canada must run each proposed tweet through a 12-step protocol, and seek the approval of the ministers office.

However, the senior government official said diplomats abroad would have more local control, saying, each mission is ultimately responsible for their own Twitter/Facebook and other social media tools.

Canada has lagged far behind its two closest allies, the United States and Britain, in digital diplomacy so Fridays announcement was a welcome development, said Roland Paris, director of the Centre for International Policy Studies at the University of Ottawa.

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Canadian diplomats should use social media more, foreign minister says

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is encouraging Canadian diplomats to experiment with social media to promote democratic freedom and trade across the globe.

The plan could represent a loosening of the communications leash the Harper government has placed on foreign diplomats as part of its centralized communications strategy.

Baird announced the initiative Friday in northern California as he visited the Silicon Valley headquarters of Internet search giant Google and of Twitter, where he is seeking advice on how to better use social media tools to advance Canadian foreign policy.

Diplomacy may never live up to the Silicon Valley mantra of move fast and break things, for various reasons. But in the environment of instant communication and social media, we do have to move faster and not be afraid to try new things or to make mistakes, Baird said.

Baird encouraged diplomats to take risks on social media to reach civic actors who can bring about political change in their countries.

It basically is a message to all of our diplomats, a word of encouragement to be innovative, even if it means there are risks, said a senior official not authorized to speak on the record.

After coming to power in 2006, the Conservative government imposed strict communication controls on its diplomats, including ambassadors and high commissioners, requiring them to clear major public events through the Privy Council Office in Ottawa.

The Canadian Press reported this week that bureaucrats at Industry Canada must run each proposed tweet through a 12-step protocol, and seek the approval of the ministers office.

However, the senior government official said diplomats abroad would have more local control, saying, each mission is ultimately responsible for their own Twitter/Facebook and other social media tools.

Canada has lagged far behind its two closest allies, the United States and Britain, in digital diplomacy so Fridays announcement was a welcome development, said Roland Paris, director of the Centre for International Policy Studies at the University of Ottawa.

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Baird urges diplomats to use social media

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