"Your questions are illegal". Opposition Platform — For Life MP caught pressing buttons refuses to talk to journalist

Opposition Platform — For Life MP Vasily Nimchenko refused to answer questions from Island TV journalist Yaroslav Bugakov, asking him to show his editorial assignment. According to the lawmaker, if a journalist does not have an editorial assignment with a list of questions, the journalist's questions are illegal.

Journalist Yaroslav Bugakov asked Vasily Nimchenko how long, in the people's deputy's opinion, "a button-presser should sit". The parliamentarian is co-author of bill No. 1127 on introducing criminal liability for non-personal voting. Meanwhile, a few weeks earlier, on November 12, the Chesno movement caught Nimchenko himself voting for a colleague. Nimchenko pressed two "For" buttons during the vote on the presidential faction's bill on improving the higher education system, the organization claims.

Dialogue between MP Vasily Nimchenko and journalist Yaroslav Bugakov

Journalist: Hello, Island TV, my name is Yaroslav, a short question...
Deputy Nimchenko: Who are you?
...
Journalist:  What should be the sanction as punishment for button-pressing?
Deputy Nimchenko: What are you talking about? Do you have an editorial assignment? Show me the editorial assignment. Look at me. Do you hear me? Do you have an assignment from the editorial office? You are asking questions illegally. Read the law.

The deputy's response drew mixed reactions on social media. Well-known entrepreneur Garik Korogodsky wrote that he was struck not so much by the deputy's answer as by his condescending use of "you" (informal "ty") when addressing the journalist.

Reference. Vasily Nimchenko — people's deputy of the 8th and 9th convocations, member of the Opposition Platform — For Life faction. Judge of the Constitutional Court (1996–2005).

Earlier, Servant of the People MP Olga Vasilevska-Smagliuk shared her opinion that freedom of speech in Ukraine is so strong that "it's time to muffle it a little".