Journalists not allowed to Oblast State Administration session in Dnipropetrovsk

On December 25, 2012 representatives of the initiative group for creating a Public Council at the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast State Administration did not allow journalists to their meeting. The journalists had been invited by Public Council chair person Larisa Babich, "Interfax-Ukraine" reported.

The journalists tried to explain to the initiative group representatives that, during the last election of the Public Council, local NGOs had many complaints about the illegality and serious irregularities within frames of the election process. Thus, the journalists wanted to attend the meeting, to see the preparation for the creation of the Public Council, and to report the information to local residents.

In response, the journalists were asked to leave the premise.

Member of the Public Council Vasyl Sukhy told journalists that the situation deteriorated compared to the last election - the initiative group flagrantly violated “several Articles of the legislation at once."

For instance, Sukhy turned attention to the fact that the initiative group included members of district and regional councils of the Party of Regions (pro-presidential).

According to Babich, she failed to prove the illegality of decisions made by the initiative group.

The previous election of the Public Council at the Oblast State Administration was held in 2011, and was also accompanied with scandals. The organizations that were not included into the council complained about that to President Yanukovych. Now, the council is composed of representatives of 25 NGOs.

The journalists got to know that, for the first time, 4.5 million hryvnias will be allocated from the regional budget this year for "Development of civil society" program.