Ukraine: Oksana Petruk Sues State Forestry Company for Withholding Public Interest Data
Lisy Ukrainy's refusal to release information, coupled with claims journalist “fabricating public interest,” raises serious concerns about transparency in a state-funded organization
Location: Ukraine, Volyn
Date: January 5, 2024
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom firmly stands with Oksana Petruk in her legal battle against Lisy Ukrainy (Forests of Ukraine). The refusal of this state-owned company to divulge salary information amidst suspicions of corruption is not only a disservice to the public interest but also a blatant disregard for the principles of transparency and accountability. The right to access information is not a mere privilege of the press; it is a cornerstone of democracy and a tool for the public to hold power to account. We call on the courts to rule in favor of the journalist and urge Lisy Ukrainy to provide the information requested.
On January 5, 2024, Oksana Petruk, with the media outlet Syla Pravda, filed a lawsuit against the state-owned company Lisy Ukrainy (Forests of Ukraine). The lawsuit was prompted by the company's refusal to disclose information of public interest, specifically details regarding salaries within the organization.
Petruk’s investigation into possible corruption in Lisy Ukrainy was triggered by the ostentatious lifestyle of the head of the Polissya Forestry Office. Syla Pravda first submitted a formal request for salary information to Lisy Ukrainy on December 12, 2024, citing public interest. The company rebuffed the request, claiming the information was not of public interest.
Petruk, determined to establish the public interest nature of the requested information, submitted a second request over a week later. This time, she included links to publications highlighting the luxurious lifestyle of the head of the state forestry office of the Polissya region, which appeared inconsistent with his official revenue declaration. Petruk also referenced news items on criminal proceedings against forestry office officials for alleged illegal logging and embezzlement.
Despite the additional evidence and the five-day timeframe stipulated by Ukrainian legislation, Lisy Ukrainy failed to respond to the journalist's second request by December 29, 2023.
Petruk, seeking clarification on the delay, contacted the company directly. In response, she received a written refusal from the executive director of Ukraine's state forestry service. The letter insinuated that the journalist's request lacked substantiated arguments demonstrating significant public interest. It also suggested that Syla Pravda might be artificially generating interest in the subject, pointing out that two of the referenced publications were from the same media outlet. Faced with continued resistance, Petruk filed a lawsuit against Lisy Ukraine with the Volyn District Administrative Court.
This case raises concerns about press freedom and transparency in Ukraine. Journalists play a crucial role in holding public entities accountable. Essential to this responsibility is unrestricted access to information, a cornerstone for fostering accountability. The refusal by Lisy Ukrainy to provide requested information, accompanied by insinuations that Oksana Petruk and her outlet were artificially generating public interest, is particularly troubling for a publicly funded entity. Questions surrounding corruption within a state-owned company undeniably fall within the realm of public interest, making the refusal of information unacceptable. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom firmly stands behind Oksana Petruk's decision to pursue legal action, urging swift resolution from the courts. It is a reminder to publicly owned bodies that they are duty-bound to furnish information concerning potential misuse of taxpayers' funds. The right to access information is not just a journalistic prerogative; it is a fundamental pillar for nurturing an informed and accountable society.
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