Dnipropetrovsk journalists accuse public servant of censorship

In Dnipropetrovsk, Anton Filipov, a journalist of the newspaper “Litsa” requested a comment from the new head of the Inspection in the issues of protection of consumers' rights in Dnipropetrovska oblast Vanda Sirovska, but she refused to comment and explained that they would have to first obtain a written permission for such comment from the press service of the oblast state administration. The journalists believe that in such a way Sirovska introduces censorship. On July 1, Filipov went to the Inspection to take a comment from Sirovska and to see based on what documents she was appointed to the position, but the Inspection's laywer Kateryna Voloshyna told him and his crew that they were not allowed to talk to a public servant without the permission from the press service of the oblast state administration.

The press service confirmed to them that they did not need any permissions and that public servants are obliged by the law to answer journalists' questions.

But Sirovska again refused to comment, this time because they did not present any supporting paper or permission from the oblast state administration.

The journalists were keen on getting her comment as two years earlier she was under a criminal investigation for professional negligence, of which she was found guilty but appealed against this decision, and the Court of appeal of Dnipropetrovska oblast returned her case for additional investigation.