Mass media in Odesa reported limitation of journalists’ access to oblast state administration. Oblast State Administration denies this

On March 3, some media outlets Odesa reported additional restrictions imposed on journalists’ access to the building of the oblast state administration.

The advisor for the head of Odesa Oblast State Administration Zoya Kazanzhi denies their reports concerning new rules of accreditation for mass media. She claims that it is a misunderstanding, and if the issue in question is accreditation for the specific session of the oblast council on March 6, the entity that could impose them is the oblast council itself, a different branch of power. The building where the State Administration is located belongs to the city council, so they are the people to be asked about presence and the reasons of the restrictions in question.

The speaker for the Oblast State Administration’s press service commented on this situation: “It was done to secure seats for journalists who write, and cameramen, as before, work in the room where they need. The only time when accreditation is required for the Oblast State Administration events is when we have important guests (like ministers, and the like) - as their press service requires it. Otherwise, our events are totally open”.