On December 26, 2016, Kyiv District Administrative Court ruled in the case initiated by ZOHO “National defense” on the refusal to provide a copy of the audit results of Zaporizhzhya Regional Hospital by the State Fiscal Service (hereinafter – the SFS). With this ruling, the court has found the refusal to be unlawful and has ordered the SFS to reconsider the request and to provide the applicant with a response.

In its ruling the court has underlined that the referral of the SFS to confidentiality of such an information is unlawful as according to paragraph 5 article 6 of the Law on access to public information access to information on the management of budget funds, possession, use or disposal of state and municipal property, including copies of relevant documents, cannot be subject to restriction.

This case which was supported by the Fund of protection of the right to information dealt with the results of the audit of Zaporizhzhya Regional Hospital. This audit has revealed the violation in the management of budget funds by the hospital.

At the request of civic activists, a criminal proceeding against this medical institution was opened under article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (misappropriation, embezzlement or appropriation of state property through the abuse of power). The criminal case is closed today, although the civil society repeatedly sought to its renewal.

Now we can only hope that the information administrator will take into account the Law on access to public information and will provide the requested documents after reconsideration.

First instance ruling (in Ukrainian): http://www.reyestr.court.gov.ua/Review/63718029