Call for negotiations with “L/DPR” militants: Ministry of Culture fires head of Strategic Communication Center

The Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communication (MCSC) dismissed the acting director of the Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security, Sergei Bykov. This was announced by the Minister of Culture and Strategic Committee Nikolai Tochitsky.

“Regarding the debate in the public sphere, I would like to point out the following: the appointment of the acting director of the Scientific Center for Tourism Development was carried out for the technical purpose of re-registering as the Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security. He was dismissed by order of the ICSC,” Tochitsky wrote.

At the time of publication of the material, Bykov himself did not comment on his dismissal.

Scandal with Bykov’s appointment

On December 6, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communication changed the name of the “Scientific Center for Tourism Development” to the “Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security”, and on December 7 it became known that political consultant Sergei Bykov was appointed acting director of tourism development. this institution.

In his statement to Media Detector, Sergei Bykov stated that one of the first steps in his mission will be an audit of the Center’s work from the previous period. The general direction of the center’s work determined by the strategy does not change.

However, journalists found information on the Internet about how Sergei Bykov called the Revolution of Dignity a “coup” and called for the release from custody of the former head of the Party of Regions group, Alexander Efremov.

In January 2018, Bykov argued that there were no Russian citizens in the “LPR” and “DPR” formations in the occupied territories and that Kiev should declare amnesty for the militants.

Bykov also believed that it was possible to enter foreign policy “from a Ukraine-centric perspective” and that Medvedchuk’s “peace plan” should be implemented rather than cooperating with the EU and NATO.

Sergei Bykov himself stated that after his appointment, the media tried to form a distorted opinion about his background, views and professional activities.

“I have never cooperated with Medvedchuk or with political forces promoting a pro-Russian agenda, on the contrary, my position has always been and will remain pro-Ukrainian,” he wrote on the social network, adding that Ukraine’s victory is and will remain his priority.

Bykov also admitted that, in his opinion, as a person working for the victory of Ukraine, he had to do various sometimes “ungrateful” work, such as legal and technical re-registration.

Let us remind you that the Verkhovna Rada appointed Alexey Chernyshev as Minister of National Unity on December 3.

On the same day, the Cabinet of Ministers announced the position of Government Commissar for Customs Administration Reform, which will be filled by Igor Smelyansky.