ECHR to hear the case on withholding of information about MPs’ properties in Ukraine

The secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada has denied journalist’s request for the names of MPs that have been given apartments

The secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada has denied journalist Kateryna Avramchuk’s request for the names of MPs that have been given apartments. After the Ukrainian courts refused to provide access to this information, she applied to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The case is being represented by the Access to Information Fund of the Media Law Institute with support of the International Renaissance Foundation’s Rule of Law Program.

The secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada considers information about apartments to be confidential and has refused to release it without the personal consent of MPs.

According to experts, the Verkhovna Rada is violating the Ukrainian law on access to public information and the Ukrainian courts of all instances have backed this illegal position. Journalists have therefore appealed to the ECHR.

“Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to win a court case in Ukraine against the Verkhovna Rada when it involves access to information. Therefore, we’re hoping that through the European Court of Human Rights we can make the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine more open to journalists and citizens,” said Media Law Institute Director Taras Shevchenko.

Contacts:
Media Law Institute
(+380 44) 496 05 80
info@medialaw.kiev.ua

***

The aim of the Rule of Law Program is to support the civil society initiatives directed to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, to promote strengthened legal consciousness and public activity at the central and local levels.

Spelling error report

The following text will be sent to our editors: