Local official seeking damages for criticism of city council

Location: Ukraine, Ostroh

Date: March 12, 2024

Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the legal actions taken by Mayor Yuri Yagodka of Ostroh against journalist Tetyana Klymchuk after she questioned the authenticity of a public relations effort by the Ostroh City Council regarding support for the military. This case represents a clear attempt to suppress freedom of the press and intimidate journalists who critically engage with the actions of public officials. Women Press Freedom denounces the attempt to intimidate Klymchuk by embroiling her in this nuisance defamation case. As a local politician and public figure the mayor and his actions should be open to critical examination by both the media and the public. We urge the courts to take decisive action by dismissing lawsuits targeting journalists for their work.

Read latest reports from the globe

In December 2023, the mayor of Ostroh, a town in western Ukraine's Rivne region, filed a defamation lawsuit against local journalist Tetyana Klymchuk

Yuri Yahodka took legal action due to a Facebook post Klymchuk had shared. In the post, the reporter criticized Yahodka's involvement in the donation of a car to the Ukrainian Army. She asserted that the mayor was falsely taking credit for the donation, as the car had actually been gifted by a Polish town a year prior. Klymchuk — a reporter with the Rivne branch of Suspilnoy — also insinuated that local authorities intended to keep the car for themselves until public scrutiny forced them to act.

According to Klymchuk, Yahodka demanded UAH 5,000 ($129) from her in moral damages.

"UAH 5,000 is his estimation of 'the severity of his physical and mental suffering, the deterioration of his capabilities and depriving him of opportunities to actualize,' and he also wants UAH 9,800 in trial expenses and lawyer's fees from me," the journalist says.

When the case went to court on March 12, 2024, Yagodka didn't show up. This was the second time he failed to appear at a hearing, once citing a business trip and the other without explanation. The court decided not to consider the lawsuitdue to his failure to attend the hearings without providing a valid reason. The court left the case unresolved, giving Yagodka 15 days to appeal.

The lawsuit filed by Mayor Yuri Yagodka against journalist Tetyana Klymchuk is a tactic to silence a reporter through legal intimidation. Journalists should not face harassment and legal retaliation for reporting on matters of public interest. The attempt to stifle criticism through defamation lawsuits sets a dangerous precedent and threatens the ability of journalists to fulfill their role in society. Women Press Freedom calls upon the courts to dismiss baseless lawsuits targeting journalists for their work. Public officials like Mayor Yagodka must be open to scrutiny and criticism, as transparency and accountability are essential pillars of democracy.

Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.