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{{Infobox event
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| date = July 2004
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| location = [[ Kyiv]], [[Kharkiv]], [[Simferopol]] in [[Ukraine]]
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{{Short description|Child pornography crackdowns in Ukraine}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
The '''2004 Ukrainian child pornography raids''' occurred a few months before the First [[Orange Revolution]], when police in [[Ukraine]] raided a softcore [[child pornography]] ring operating in the cities of [[Kyiv]], [[Kharkiv]], and [[Simferopol]]. The ring had operated since 2001 and used a modeling agency as a [[front organization|front]].<ref name="reuters crackdown">{{Cite news
| title=Police Shut Ukraine Model Agency in Porn Crackdown
| date=28 July 2004
| publisher=[[Reuters]]
| url=https://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=5801731
| url-status=dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20040810103032/https://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=5801731 |archivedate = 10 August 2004}}</ref>
== Background ==
Operating predominantly in Kyiv with branches in cities like Kharkiv and Simferopol, the agency, named "Alex Model" ({{Langx|uk|Алекс-Модел}}), was identified as one of the major producers and distributors of child pornographic content, which was branded under several names throughout the world using the "LS" abbreviation as ''LS-Models'', ''LS-Magazine, LS-Girls, LS-Studio, LS-Island, LS-Land, LS-Dreams, and LSMODELCLUB (LS Model Club)''. The leaders attracted minors with the prospect of modeling opportunities, only to involve them in illicit activities.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2004-08-12 |title=Под видом модельного агентства для детей в Харькове работала порностудия |trans-title=Under the guise of a modeling agency for children, a porn studio worked in Kharkov |url=http://www.rusawm.com/news.php?cod=392 |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=rusawm.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110163323/http://www.rusawm.com/news.php?cod=392 |archive-date=10 January 2008 }}</ref>
The agency's operations spanned several cities in Ukraine. They would regularly advertise on TV, in local newspapers, and on the radio, calling for children with a "model appearance." Parents, believing in opportunities for their children, brought in their kids, and the agency's workers would create explicit content.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukrainian child porn ring |url=https://www.crime-research.org/news/2004.08.13/561/ |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=www.crime-research.org}}</ref>
It is believed the agency lured approximately 1,500 girls between 8 and 16 years of age. The agency had many branches located throughout Ukraine, in particular in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Simferopol. The images of minors were then disseminated predominantly on foreign internet websites to consumers in the United States, Canada, and Australia, among others.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2004-09-30 |title=Собес педофилов |trans-title=Social security of pedophiles |url=https://www.gazeta.ru/2004/09/30/oa_135083.shtml |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=Газета.Ru |language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-08-10 |title=Police Shut Ukraine Model Agency in Porn Crackdown |url=https://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=5801731 |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=Reuters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040810103032/https://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=5801731 |archive-date=10 August 2004 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=A Ukrainian child porn ring exposed |url=https://www.crime-research.org/news/29.07.2004/527/ |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=www.crime-research.org}}</ref><ref name="state Ukraine report" />
== Discovery and investigation ==
The first police report for the agency was received by the Crimean police in 2004 from a resident of Simferopol.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=ИСРАФИЛОВА |first=ЮЛИЯ |date=4 October 2011 |title=Дело «Алекс-модел»: киевский педофил-растлитель, организатор порносъемок - миллионер и на свободе |trans-title=Case of "Alex Model": Kiev pedophile molester, organizer of porn filming - a millionaire and at large |url=https://cripo.com.ua/gangsters/?p=123593/ |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=УКРАЇНА КРИМІНАЛЬНА |language=ru}}</ref> Law enforcement started surveillance and collected information, and officers identified about 40 people involved in this case in one way or another.
The operations of the Kyiv-based porn studio came to an end when law enforcement agencies stopped its operations. As part of the subsequent investigation, the Alex Model agency in Kharkiv was discovered.<ref name=":1" />
Sergei Bakaev, head of the department for combating crimes related to human trafficking, emphasized the manipulative strategies used by the agency to exploit children. They deceived parents by presenting the façade of a legitimate modeling business, showing them reputable magazines with children on the covers, and promising similar opportunities for their kids.<ref name=":1" />
In reality, the agency psychologically manipulated the children, coaxing them into explicit photoshoots under the guise of changing outfits or playing games, ensuring that most of the young victims were oblivious to the exploitative nature of the activities.<ref name=":1" />
Simultaneously, in Australia, over 150 individuals were arrested on charges of possession and distribution of child pornography. The origins of some of the materials were traced back to Eastern Europe and Russia. This international crackdown was part of a US-led international campaign against child pornography, which started its investigations in March 2004.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=Sep 30, 2004 |title=Australian police arrest more than 150 in child porn crackdown |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/australian-police-arrest-more-than-150-in-child-porn-crackdown-1.485299 |website=CBC News}}</ref>
The mastermind behind the "Alex Model" agency was 25-year-old Alexander N. ({{Langx|uk|Александру Н.; Александра Чурсина}}) from Kyiv, who was arrested, and a criminal case for distributing child pornography was initiated against him.<ref name=":2" /> Other members of the group remained wanted. Investigations revealed that the parents of the exploited children were paid anywhere between 50 and 200 hryvnia per hour of shooting, with the company's monthly net income estimated at $100,000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Ukrainian child porn ring exposed |url=https://www.crime-research.org/news/29.07.2004/527/ |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=www.crime-research.org}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
== Raids and collaboration ==
The Crime Investigation Department of the [[Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ukraine)|Ministry for the Interior]] conducted the raids. The deputy head of the department, [[Vitaly Yarema]], said that the bank accounts of the agency, containing hundreds of thousands of dollars, had been frozen.<ref name="reuters crackdown" /> Profits of the agency amounted to millions of dollars.<ref name=":2" />
The raids were conducted after a joint investigation between Ukrainian police and [[Interpol]]. Subsequently, after initial raids, several other child pornography studios were closed in [[Dnipropetrovsk]], [[Donetsk]], [[Luhansk]], and [[Lviv]].<ref name="state Ukraine report" /> In 2005, the [[United States Department of State]] announced that there was further cooperation between Ukrainian police and other law enforcement agencies internationally.<ref name="state Ukraine report">{{cite web |year=2005 |title=2005 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Ukraine |url=https://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61682.htm |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060407103229/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61682.htm |archivedate=7 April 2006 |accessdate=7 April 2006 |publisher=United States Department of State}}</ref>
The investigation following the raids was completed by 6 April 2005.<ref name="pravda">{{cite news |date=6 April 2005 |title=Criminal group involves 1,500 underage Ukrainian girls in porn business with parents' knowledge |work=[[Pravda]] |url=http://english.pravda.ru/accidents/21/96/383/15246_girls.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018031854/http://english.pravda.ru/accidents/21/96/383/15246_girls.html |archivedate=18 October 2007}}</ref>
== Outcome ==
In 2005, according to Part 3 of Art. 301 of the [[Criminal Code of Ukraine]] ("import, manufacture, sale and distribution of pornographic items"), the organizer of the agency "Alex Model" faced a sentence of 3 to 7 years in prison.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-08-30 |title=Порнообогатительный комбинат |trans-title=Porn Enrichment Plant |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/604724 |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=www.kommersant.ru |language=ru}}</ref>
Despite extensive surveillance and eventually the arrest of various "Alex Model" employees across Ukraine, the legal outcome was lenient. Most involved were given suspended sentences. Alexander N. was held for several months in a [[pre-trial detention]] center and was released.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 March 2013 |title=Российский сайт о детской моде показал украинских детей в чулках и латексе |trans-title=Russian website about children's fashion showed Ukrainian children in stockings and latex |url=https://kp.ua/incidents/386200-rossyiskyi-sait-o-detskoi-mode-pokazal-ukraynskykh-detei-v-chulkakh-y-latekse |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=KP.UA |language=ru}}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[Child prostitution in Ukraine]]
* [[Human trafficking in Ukraine]]
==References==
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==External links==
* {{Cite news | url = https://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=5801731
* {{Cite news|url=http://www.crime-research.org/news/29.07.2004/527/ |title=A Ukrainian child porn ring exposed |work=crime-research.org |publisher=[[Computer Crime Research Center]] |date=29 July 2004 |accessdate=4 February 2006
* {{Cite news|url=http://www.crime-research.org/news/2004.08.13/561 |title=Ukrainian child porn ring |work=crime-research.org |publisher=[[Computer Crime Research Center]] |date=13 August 2004 |accessdate=4 February 2006
* {{Cite news | url = http://mirror.wikileaks.info/wiki/An_insight_into_child_porn/ | title = An Insight
* {{cite news | url = http://www.rusawm.com/news.php?cod=392 | script-title=ru:Под видом модельного агентства для детей в Харькове работала порностудия|trans-title=Pornography studio operated out of
* {{Cite news | url = https://aloha.kiev.ua/IMG/press/Casting/casting4.pdf | title = Мотель агентство! |work=Casting.org.ua magazine | date = 2005 | url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20170918171957/http://aloha.kiev.ua/IMG/press/Casting/casting4.pdf |archivedate = 18 September 2017|last=Максименко|first=Ирина|pages=25–27|language=Russian}}
[[Category:2004 crimes in Ukraine|child pornography raids]]
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[[Category:Mass media in Ukraine]]
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