Ukrinform correspondent who reported on "topic guidelines" from editors quits

Yuriy Struhyn; photo from his Facebook

Ukrinform's Chernihiv and Cherkasy correspondent Yuriy Stryhun has quit the state news agency.

He reported this to the IMI representative in Cherkasy oblast, saying that he had resigned on June 27.

"I wrote a resignation letter because the team and two of my editors, who were my direct supervisors, made simultaneous Facebook posts on the same day saying that Strihun was difficult to work with, a hype-chaser, a manipulator. Other colleagues added that I was a draft dodger. Most of the team members liked the posts. There was no point in me staying at the job," the journalist said.

Yuriy Stryhun added that had written the resignation letter while being recorded on video, allegedly at the insistence of the chief HR officer. According to him, in the recording, he was asked specifically whether he was resigning under pressure.

"Regarding the draft notice, I passed the physicals, they told me I was fit enough, told me to wait. They will call me and take me if they need. So I made a poor draft dodget, contrary to some people's wishes. I did everything that was required of me by the law," the journalist notes.

Yuriy Stryhun has not yet found a new job, so he is open to offers.

On May 30, Yuriy Stryhun publicly confirmed receiving "topic guidelines" from editors. On the following day, Yuriy Stryhun received a conscription notice with a demand to come to the enlistment office by his registered address.