In Mykolayiv, bodyguard of city mayor prevented journalist from taking photos

In Mykolayiv on July 1, a bodyguard of the city mayor Oleksander Senkevych was preventing the journalist of the media outlet NikVesti Oleh Derenuha from performing his professional duties in the city hall. He was intentionally placing himself in front of the lens, preventing the photogrpaher from taking photos. Oleh Derenuha, the editor-in-chief of NikVesti, reported this on his Facebook page and published a video recording of the incident from the CCTV camera, NikVesti reported.

The incident took place on 11.45 a.m., during the recess in the third plenary sitting of the city council’s session.

When the councilmembers were discussing the nominee for the council secretary, the city mayor Oleksander Senkevych and councilmembers Ihor Diatlov (Opposition Bloc) and Anatoly Diumin went into a separate office, and the mayor’s bodyguard stood in front of the doors. The photo reporter wanted to take a photo of the councilmembers leaving the office but the bodyguard would stand in his way despite the journalist’s efforts to explain what he wanted to do. The bodyguard kept telling the reported that the reporter was dismissed, even as the councilmembers were leaving the office.

The media outlet submitted an information request to the city council as to the official status of Senkevych’s bodyguard, whether he is officially employed and what his duties are.