Journalists of Zhytomyr are outraged by accreditation for elections of the University's rector

Zhytomyr Franko State University demands from the journalists to undergo the accreditation procedure to be able to make it to the elections of the University's rector which will take place on October 12. Local journalists are outraged by this situation. As journalist of online media outlet Zhytomyr.info Oksana Trokoz reported to IMI, the requirement to obtain accreditation for the elections of the rector became known via Facebook in several hours before the end of accreditation registration. In particular, the professor of the University Andriy Blyzniuk. According to him, the journalists without accreditation will not be permitted to enter the polling station. Oksana Trokoz added that with all this, no contact data for obtaining accreditation was given. In addition, mass media have to file an application with a list of equipment used for photo- or video recording of the elections. IMI media lawyer Roman Holovenko commented that the committee for elections of rector does not have a right to adopt a procedure for accreditation, “because neither it nor the University is an authority, and part 1 of Article 26 of the Law of Ukraine “On Information” enables only authorities to introduce accreditation for journalists”. “Although it is still better than not admitting any journalists to the elections of rector, which would be allowed based on the law”, the lawyer added.