The accusations of the involvement of members of the Socialist Party of Ukraine (SPU) in organizing an attack on journalist Dmytro Gnap in Poltava are slander, Head of the SPU Illia Kyva said on his Facebook page, the press service of the SPU has reported on its official website.

"I have learnt from Facebook's news feed that one of the party's representatives could allegedly be related to the attack on journalist Dmytro Gnap. I am sure that this is not true, because in no case should that be allowed to attack journalists," he wrote.

Kyva said that he considers these actions generally unacceptable, especially with regard to journalists.

"I have always greatly respected the work of journalists. I consider them a real fourth estate," the politician said.

At the same time, he added that he had taken the situation under control and had already called the head of the Poltava regional organization to Kyiv to clarify the circumstances.

"I initiated an internal party investigation and have already called the head of the Poltava regional organization to Kyiv. If it is confirmed that someone from my team was involved in the attack on Gnap, then the guilty will be very severely punished..," Kyva said.

As reported, on October 19, in Poltava region, in the town of Shyshaky, before the meeting of the session of the regional council, journalist and activist Gnap was doused in feces.