20 Khvylyn journalist denied accreditation for Ruslan Stefanchuk meeting in Ternopil

Iryna Beliakova, a reporter with the Ternopil-based outlet 20 Khvylyn, was denied accreditation to cover the meeting with Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk that took place in Ternopil on 6 October. Ternopil Oblast Military Administration explained that the journalist had missed the deadline and submitted her application when the lists of media had already been passed to the organisers.

In comments to Iryna Nebesna, the Institute of Mass Information’s regional representative, Iryna Beliakova said she had submitted her application to take part in the “Parliamentary Dialogue” event on 5 October. The next day, the journalist posted a question in the group chat with the Ternopil OMA, asking for details regarding press access, and learned that she had not been granted accreditation.

“I asked a question in the chat regarding their approach to the press, and that was when I found out there I had not been accredited. When I asked whether I could apply again, they said Stefanchuk’s press service had declined,” the journalist said.

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• Khmelnytskyi OMA was selective in inviting reporters to VRU Chair meeting

Nadia Yashchyshak, acting head of the oblast administration’s PR department, explained in comments to IMI’s representative that the invitation for media was posted in the group chat on 5 October along with an accreditation form (the former was posted at 11:02, the latter, with follow-up comments and a request to re-register, at 1:46pm).

“The post said that accreditation had to be completed by 2pm. At 3:30pm we had already submitted the lists of media to the organising department, which handled further communication with Stefanchuk’s team. Iryna applied at 4pm, and we didn’t see that. The next morning she wrote something about the event in the group chat. I replied to her personally, saying that the lists had been submitted earlier, but that I would ask whether they could still add her. Management told me it was too late, because the lists had already been submitted,” Yashchyshak remarked.

She said that Iryna Beliakova was not the only one denied accreditation due to late application; one other outlet faced this problem as well.

On 6 October, the Khmelnytskyi Oblast Military Administration (OMA) was selective in inviting reporters to a meeting with Verkhovna Rada Chair Ruslan Stefanchuk, which four local TV channels got to attend but no news websites did.