Ministry of Internal Affairs refused to give journalist list of people whom Minister Avakov awarded with personal firearms

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine refused to provide to the correspondent of the online media outlet «Prestupnosi.NET», Andriy Lokhmatov, a copy of orders issued by the Minister Arsen Avakov on granting to people personal firearms as an award. The head of Staff Department Hromyko replied to the request with refusal, as this order, according to him, is “for internal use only”. Yet, as the journalist argues, according to the Law “On  access to public information”, article 9, information on use of public funds, and the names of people who received benefits from public funds, must be in public domain, and this law has greater power than any internal Ministry regulations.