Vyacheslav Shandrik
The deputy mayor is insulted. Vyacheslav Shandrik filed a lawsuit against the public organization "Anti-Corruption Movement of the South." The activists accused Trukhanov's deputy of being corrupt and spread the official's bad reputation through the media. The activists deny the accusation of spreading insults, claiming it was not their fault the insult was posted online.
Outside the Odessa Regional Court of Appeals, representatives of the Anti-Corruption Movement of the South are demanding that the Ovidiopol court overturn its ruling that Shandryk be paid 60 hryvnias in compensation for insults received from activists.
"They're essentially silencing us and trying to extort money for expressing our opinions. We simply filed a complaint with law enforcement agencies requesting an investigation into his corruption, in accordance with Article 40 of the Constitution of Ukraine," said lawyer Yuriy Vasiliev.
Mr. Shandrik viewed the anti-corruption movement's activities as a personal insult when he saw a statement with his name on websites:
— https://antikor.com.ua/articles/5044-obshchestvenniki_initsiirovali_proverku_dejateljnosti_korruptsionera_shandrika_vjacheslava_ivanovich;
— https://pr-z.com.ua/obschestvenniki-iniciirovali-proverku-deyatelnosti .
And here's the notorious article with the statement, which features the deputy mayor's name. He's accused of masterminding a corruption scheme. Shandrik is a civil servant and, contrary to the law, runs a private construction business.
"A statement was filed with the police, but for some unknown reason it ended up online. This is what outraged Shandrik. We had nothing to do with the publication of this statement. This is pressure on a public organization," said Vladimir Bukach, chairman of the Anti-Corruption Movement of the South.
The courtroom is hearing the activists' appeal. Shandrika's lawyer is adamant: the deputy mayor's honor and dignity have been tarnished. Bukach also insists: the complaint was filed with the police, not for the media.
The court did not issue a verdict because there were not enough defendants in the case who had posted information unfavorable to Shandrik on websites. The next hearing will be held on April 2. Meanwhile, activists plan to continue exposing corruption schemes.
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