In Chernivtsi, journalists not allowed to bidding committee session

On May 5, journalists were not allowed to attend the session of the bidding committee of the housing and utility service department of Chernivtsi city council. According to "Molodyi Bukovynets", even the city mayor was not allowed to be present when the bidding results concerning the contract on repairs at Bohdana Khmelnytskoho street were announced. The officials explained this by a need to protect the bidding voters from "external pressure". The press was only allowed to be present at announcement of the result of examination of the bidders' documents, and then expelled again for the time of voting for 30-40 minutes, and later invited just to announcement of the winner.

According to IMI media lawyer Roman Holovenko, acting so the city officials did not break the law, as the law “On public procurement" only demands press presence during the opening of bidders' proposals and making the results of the bidding public.