Odesa, March 26, 2015. Private enterprise with foreign investments "Container Terminal Ilyichevsk" (CTI) is a target of a brazen "Life News"-style black PR campaign, the architects and sponsors of which are trying to illegally obtain control over Ilyichevsk Sea Port. One of the weapons deployed in the information war against CTI is TV channel "1+1". This concern is shared by the leadership of the company, who are currently preparing a defamation lawsuit against the channel. The decision to launch the legal action was triggered by a commentary in "1+1" channel's "Hroshi" program, aired on 23 March 2015, in which CTI was unfoundedly and falsely accused of using Ilyichevsk port in the interests of Russian businessmen. "We understand, of course, that some people are really keen on getting their hands on the port, but there is still no need to degrade to the level of the Russian "Life News". While accusing us of almost wholesale shipments of Russian Grads and BUKs, "1+1" journalists could have at least enquired whether CTI is currently operating in the port at all", commented on the situation CTI's CEO Andrey Pavlyutin. As reported earlier, CTI was forced to stop its operations in the Ilyichevsk port at the beginning of March after its joint venture agreement with the state company "Ilyichevsk Commercial Sea Port" (ICSP) was terminated. "This banal exploitation of the "Russian card" by the editors of "Hroshi" and their patrons is ridiculous in its unfoundedness. At the same time, cynical speculation on the topic of war in our worrisome times, especially in the Odesa region, is an irresponsible and socially explosive game on the part of one of the central national TV channels", stated Pavlyutin. Andrey Pavlyutin's additional concerns are caused by the statement in the abovementioned "Hroshi" program of ICSP's trade union representative Sergei Bryzgalov, who said that some "self-defense units" were created in Ilyichevsk port, which will oppose the appointment from "the above", which means by the state, of a new director of the state enterprise. "Bryzgalov's statement that their "self-defense will not allow the appointment of the new director of the port", inspired probably by the recent attempt of "revolt" at Ukrnafta, should alarm the National Security Service (SBU) and law-enforcement agencies, since an open armed blocking of Ilyichevsk port, which Bryzgalov implied in his statement, would be a direct threat to Ukraine's national security", commented Pavlyutin. He also noted, that the similarity between the situations surrounding ICSP and Ukrnafta and the fact that the dubious commentary appeared on "1+1" channel are not a mere coincidence. Operations of the private company "Container Terminal Ilyichevsk" was suspended on 4 March 2015 by a court judgment in the case concerning the termination of the joint venture agreement, concluded by CTI in 2005 with the state enterprise ICSP. CTI, which has invested USD 51 million in the development of the port's infrastructure, is now appealing against the court's ruling in the court of highest instance, since the termination of the investment joint venture agreement violates the rights of the investors, contradicts the Law on Sea Ports and will lead to extremely negative social consequences. As CTI top management reports, after the joint venture agreement was terminated some companies, which were the port's clients before, are leaving the port, stating at the same time that they are ready to renew their operations should CTI return to the port. As a result, the volume of containers processed by the port during February-March 2015 has decreased three-fold compared to the same period last year. Notably, CTI shareholders are a U.S. investment fund Siguler Guff & Company with a 50% share, a German logistics company SRR Deutschland – which owns 25%, and Ukrainian citizen Andrey Pavlyutin with a 25% stake. For more detailed information please visit www.kti-terminal.com, call +38(063)725-22-22, or email [email protected]