Rivne-based website posts smear article, calls Chetverta Vlada readers small-minded

Rivnenski Novyny has released another article smearing the investigative journalism agency Chetverta Vlada and its chief editor Volodymyr Torbich, reports the Institute of Mass Information representative in Rivne oblast, Hanna Kalaur.

Rivnenski Novyny published a news story with the headline “'Let your fatface editor go and serve…! Instead of sitting there clowning around…' army serviceman says about the owner of a Rivne tabloid” on May 16. The article is based on statements by Yuriy Kovaliuk, former head of the Radyvylivka enlistment office, probably about Volodymyr Torbich. However, the website does not indicate when and in what context the comment was received.

The smear article on the Rivnenski Novyny website. Screenshot by Hanna Kalaur

Earlier, Kovaliuk gave an interview to Chetverta Vlada, which gained traction and resulted in his dismissal from his post, after which he was deployed to the front line. When the agency’s journalist called him to get a comment on the dismissal, he cursed at her obscenely and expressed his wish that Chetverta Vlada chief editor go serve in the army himself. These statements became the basis for the Rivnenski Novyny article.

The Rivnenski Novyny news story hurls several insults at Chetverta Vlada, calling them a “tabloid” and a “mickey-mouse outfit”. The website also attacked Volodymyr Torbich's character, accusing him of contempt for the troops and of exploiting army crowdfunding campaigns to raise funds for the media outlet, and calling him a “pookie”. The article also calls the Chetverta Vlada readers who support the agency financially "small-minded people".

In a comment to the IMI, Volodymyr Torbich said that he believed this smear article to be the work of Andriy Androschuk, a former advisor and assistant to the former Rivne Oblast Administration chair, Oleksiy Mulyarenko.

“In my opinion, this is obviously being done by Andriy Androschuk, a former advisor and assistant to Oleksiy Mulyarenko. The Andriy Androschuk whom Chetverta Vlada helped resign as advisor to the chair of the Rivne Oblast Administration after he slandered and insulted journalist Inna Biletska. The Andriy Androschuk, whom Chetverta Vlada exposed for 'jeansa', for violating other rules of journalistic ethics, for causing a drunk driving accident, for negative PR ordered by the Rivne local authorities,” Volodymyr Torbich said.

He added that Rivnenski Novyny and the Viber channel of the website Ridne Rivne have been consistently posting false and manipulative information. Since both resources are anonymized, it is difficult to hold the authors accountable.

“In my opinion, this behavior has signs of retaliatory obstruction of reporting. We will consult with lawyers on how to hold the masterminds of this smear campaign accountable,” Volodymyr Torbich commented.

The IMI representative in Rivne oblast contacted Rivnenski Novyny chief editor Andriy Androschuk in Telegram, asking for a comment on the release of another smear article targeting Chetverta Vlada. Andriy Androschuk read the message, but did not reply, instead blocking her contact in the messenger app.

Earlier, when an IMI representative called Andriy Androschuk with a similar request regarding another instance of the smear campaign against the agency, he said he was a different person. And later added an offensive tag to her profile in a phone number identification app.

This is not the first time that Rivnenski Novyny has tried to discredit Chetverta Vlada. The website posted two defamatory articles about the investigators in December 2024 and another one in April 2025.

Rivnenski Novyny was founded by Andriy Androschuk, once an adviser to the former head of the Rivne Oblast Administration, Oleksiy Mulyarenko. Androschuk has been a subject of multiple Chetverta Vlada investigations into his spreading misinformation about journalist Inna Biletska, as well as drunk driving.