This September the new Criminal Code came into effect. According to its Clause 387, accessories to the dissemination of prejudicial confidential information from an inquiry will be brought to trial. In this connection the Prosecutor General’s Office will significantly reduce the volume of information it gives journalists, Prosecutor General Mykhailo Potebenko informed the press at a collegium of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Simultaneously, according to Mr. Potebenko, every prosecutor can give information to the media, however, only “in the volume he considers necessary. There should be no wholesale permissive transparency concerning specific cases. The law obliges us to this.” Later, commenting on these innovations, the Prosecutor General noted that journalists’ job will in fact become more complicated, however “this will only give them a chance for objectivity in gathering information and prevent them from acting in somebody’s interests.” In case of the violation of the confidentiality of prejudicial information of an inquiry, in his words, an investigation can be initiated to find the information source and ensure that “a specific person be held responsible.”
The Prosecutor General assured journalists that they would always have an opportunity to ask questions. In addition, this clause will help prevent outbursts of compromising evidence during the election campaign. When asked whether it is possible that he might participate in the elections, Potebenko answered that in spite of any presumptions by the media, he had not yet made a final decision. Simultaneously, he did not exclude the possibility of his taking part in the elections in a majority district.
