Official Statement by ALLATRA Regarding the Misrepresentation of a Photograph in the Media

ALLATRA considers it necessary to clarify the circumstances surrounding publications in which a photograph previously released by Ukrainian law enforcement authorities has been used to spread the false claim that explosives and weapons were discovered in the organization’s Ukrainian office. 

This reporting is false and defamatory.  As  stated in the court ruling, the Ukrainian authorities relied on inaccurate information in conducting their investigation into ALLATRA. The court subsequently issued a ruling that refuted the suspicions arising from that information.

Facts

The photograph shows several firearms, cash, a passport, and an object resembling an explosive device attached to a clock. However, this object is not a real explosive device and poses no danger whatsoever. It is a harmless souvenir item available for general sale, often marketed as a “movie prop” (see here and here), intended solely to imitate the appearance of an explosive device and capable of functioning only as an alarm clock. Therefore, the photograph does not depict a real explosive device.

The six firearms shown in this photograph were licensed and lawfully owned by various individuals, some of whom were ALLATRA participants. Ukrainian law enforcement authorities seized the firearms during searches of their homes. These searches were part of the authorities’ investigation into ALLATRA, which, according to a Ukrainian court ruling, was based on inaccurate information (here).

Ukrainian law enforcement authorities photographed the souvenir alarm clock resembling an explosive device and the firearms together with a passport and cash to create the impression of dangerous and subversive activity. Several media outlets reported that these items had been discovered in an ALLATRA office, but no official statement by Ukrainian law enforcement authorities contained such a claim. 

Media reports compounded the staged photograph with exaggerated claims. 

The term “explosives” first appeared in an article published by Babel.ua on November 2, 2023. However, the official press release from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine cited in the article contains no such claim.

Likewise, Seznam Zprávy was the first to publish on December 19, 2023, that this photograph is from ALLATRA’s “Kyiv center”, even though the Ukrainian authorities had made no such statements. 

ALLATRA categorically rejects any attempt to associate the organization with weapons or explosive materials.

We call upon media organizations to cease disseminating inaccurate information and to correct previously published materials so that they accurately reflect the facts.