Kropyvnytskyi-based news outlet Hrechka says OMA official tried to censor them

Photo by the Kropyvnytskyi-based news portal Hrechka on Facebook

Anastasia Dzyubak, chief editor of the Kropyvnytskyi-based online news outlet Hrechka, says that the Department of Veterans Affairs of the Kirovohradska Oblast Military Administration (OMA) attempted to censor the media outlet's July 17 news story “Kropyvnytskyi veterans and children of fallen soldiers receive cash certificates for housing”.

Anastasia Dzyubak reported this to Pavlo Lisnychenko, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Kirovohradska oblast.

The journalist says she was asked by Natalia Sivova, head of the Veterans Affairs Department, to correct the released material.

According to Anastasia Dzyubak, on July 17, Kropyvnytskyi authorities awarded cash certificates for housing to war veterans and families of fallen soldiers. Having attended the event, which was open to reporters, the journalists published an overview article, which included the full names and brief biographies of the veterans who had received the certificates. All of this information was announced at the event.

The official contacted Anastasia Dzyubak the next day, July 18, demanding that she remove information about the certificate recipients from the news story, saying that “such article is unacceptable.” When asked to clarify what exactly the official considered unacceptable, she sent Anastasia Dzyubak a link to the Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of Personal Data” in a text messenger.

Hrechka considers such actions as an attempt at selective pressure and censorship, since the OMA had no objections to other media outlets publishing similar lists.

Having assessed the OMA official's arguments, IMI lawyer Volodymyr Zelenchuk pointed out that in this case, paragraph two of part 3 of Article 5 of the Law “On the Protection of Personal Data” applies.

“Since these certificates are essentially a form of issuing budget funds to individuals, such information cannot be restricted in access and, accordingly, in further disclosure,” the lawyer summarized.

The Hrechka team plans to officially appeal to the Kirovohradska OMA with a request to address the situation in order to prevent similar interference in the work of the media in the future.