The court fined the editor of Stryi media outlet for demanding a bribe from an official

Stryi city district court of Lvivska oblast fined editor-in-chief of Stryi online media outlet "Depesha" Volodymyr Lipchanskyi for amount of 12,750 UAH. He was accused of  demanding a bribe of $500 from the local official for stopping journalist investigation and non-dissemination of information. 

This was in the sentence of the court as of July 15.

According to the court resolution, the editor is found guilty in criminal violation described in part 3 of article 368-3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (in wording as of June 12, 2017) (Bribery of official of a private legal entity, regardless of its organizational and legal form). 

Lipchanskyi is also banned from taking positions related to the duties of organizing, administrating, and managing economic functions, for two years.

The court resolution informs that the editor-in-chief of media outlet “Depesha” demanded money from the head of Stryi branch of  “Lvivskyi oblavtodor” (public road construction company) for not disseminating certain sensitive information of the company. According to the investigators, Lipchanskyi came to the official as early as in the beginning of May of 2017 saying he has sensitive information, some of which was about repairs of the road Stryi - Ivano-Frenkivsk, and knows about his business activities. In the end of May the journalist demanded $1000 for non-dissemination of this information, but later agreed to half the amount. 

The official complained to the police, and the journalist was placed under surveillance. The journalist was detained after he received the money.