By autumn 2008, Infostore was one of the most prominent sites on the Ukrainian internet. It began as a citizen-journalism resource, then evolved into a file-sharing service that functioned like a social network: users uploaded content themselves, and the service provided storage and tools for sharing. This model brought popularity but also constant complaints. The site was repeatedly accused of copyright infringement, as control over what users posted was limited. Co-founder Alexei Mas already had a name in the industry: he had been instrumental in founding the Ukrainian Banner Network, headed the Ukrainian Portal, and was the architect of Mail.ua.
The operational theory behind the police action was that the server contained pornographic material. The search was conducted by the department for combating human trafficking. On Thursday, December 4, officers from the district department arrived at the Volia-Cable data center, where the site's servers were located, and seized them. A search of the Infostore office took place the same day.
Officers confiscated system units. Those remaining in the office were held without phones for more than five hours. According to Mas, the police spent twelve hours in the office, from 2 p.m. until two in the morning. The servers, he said, ended up at the prosecutor's office. In his blog, Mas described the events as an intrusion into the company's operations rather than a routine inspection that could have been conducted according to normal procedure.
One episode of the search gave rise to conflicting accounts. The phrase "people burst into the office at lunchtime… everything was turned upside down in 20 seconds" is attributed to Mas in the Ukrainska Pravda publication, but another outlet names Infostore employee Yulia Shelkova as its author. The authorship of this phrase remains unestablished, so it can only be quoted with that caveat.
Files, Claims, and Links
Shortly before the seizure, Infostore changed its operating rules. The site stopped storing files on its own servers and allowed users to post only links to materials on other file-sharing services. For the industry, this was a typical way to reduce legal risks: the platform points to a file physically stored elsewhere and formally does not hold it. However, accusations of copyright infringement and distribution of undesirable content were not dropped, and the switch to links did not stop the investigation.
In his blog, Mas linked the service's work to the fight against illegal content. His position is expressed in words he cited as the company's readiness to act:
"We were precisely ready to provide a service for removing pornography, including child pornography, even without our involvement," Mas wrote in his blog.
Infostore's investor was Alexander Olshansky, who sat on the board of the Internet Association of Ukraine (InAU). This organization became one of the main venues where the case was discussed. Its staff and partners commented, and the association itself found itself in the spotlight of the professional community during those days.
What Happened Next
Several parties commented on the case. InAU board member Ivan Petukhov, Mikhail Goncharuk of Dominion, and adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs Ekaterina Levchenko spoke about the situation and its legal consequences. The prosecution was represented by Mikhail Andrienko, head of the Interior Ministry's department for combating human trafficking. The public debate around the search proceeded in parallel with the service's work, as it needed to continue explaining its position to users and partners.
On December 10, InAU held a press conference dedicated to the seizure of the servers. Two weeks later, on December 23, Mas gave an interview titled "Infostor — Non-Commercial." Thus the service received a public explanation of its status at a time when its equipment remained at the prosecutor's office.
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