In Volyn region journalist lost case on access to information

On the 23rd of January the Volynsky district economic court has dismissed the claim lodged by a journalist for the Center of journalistic investigations “Force of truth” Oksana Kovalchuk, as to the IMI’s correspondent. As to the judges, the defendant Kivertsivske forestry did not receive budget funds, and its agreements had restrictions as to providing of information. The judges added the divulgating of the data requested by the journalist could cause prejudice to the reputation of the forestry company. The journalist was asking the judges to attach to the case an extract from Unified public register of judicial decisions within a similar case on access to the public information, but the judges rejected her demand. As to Kovalchuk, the Mykolaivsky district economic court had examined a claim against some state enterprise which was refuting the fact they are state company and thus, as to them, were not disposers of public information within meaning of access to public information. The court rejected the demand to attach these materials to the case of Kovalchuk. To remind, Oksana Kovalchuk had sent an information request to Kivertsivske forestry in order to get to know the copies of agreements with private guards and non-governmental organizations, but they failed to provide information. As to the journalist, the forestry spent in 2016-2017 half a million of hryvnias (nearly $ 17 thousands) for its guards. Oksana Kovalchuk is going to appeal against this court decision.