Opposition Bloc in Chernivtsi sues newspaper “Chas” because of article on turning of tables

Members of Chernivetska oblast council and head of the city organization of the Opposition Bloc started a lawsuit against the newspaper “Chas”, demanding to refute and declare invalid the information published in the newspaper. No financial compensation is requested in the claim. This was reported by the regional IMI correspondent in Chernivetska oblast. The article in question is by the editor-in-chief's daughter, member of Chernivetska oblast council Olha Kobevko “Party of Regions will not turn the tables in Bukovyna”, which was published in May of 2017. As Olha Kobevko said in her comment to the TV channel TVA, the lawsuit was caused by her speech at the council session. Head of the city party center of “Opposition Bloc”, claimant Ruslan Tulyk said in his comment at the TVA website that wrongful accusations are used against him, “Olha, using the newspaper of her father, pours dirt on us and provides invalid information for the readers, and not only for them. She said that I “allegedly” was beaten. I have documents confirming that I had brain concussion.” Before, the local Opposition Bloc accused Olha Kobevko of beating Ruslan Tulyk. Head of Chernivetska oblast center of the Independent Media Trade Union Mykola Kobeliuk considers this lawsuit an attack against freedom of speech. In his comment for IMI, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Chas” Petro Kobevko also said that he considers the claim to be a form of pressure against the newspaper and will defend the newspaper's rights in the court of law. The legal support to the newspaper will be provided by the Institute for Development of Regional Press.