Themis supported the media: Karplyuk lost the case against the NGO “Stop Corruption” in the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of Ukraine has completed a judicial investigation into the case involving former Mayor of Irpin, Volodymyr Karplyuk, and the All-Ukrainian public organization “Stop Corruption.” The panel of judges of the Civil Court of Cassation overturned previous decisions that obliged the media to refute information about the cottage town “O.Krasa” in the Kyiv region and the dubious activities of a company associated with the former official.

The conflict arose from a journalistic investigation published on January 10, 2024, which highlighted suspicious construction work in the Irpin territorial community.

According to investigators, near the village of Stoyanka on the banks of the Irpin River, the developer was carrying out sand mining on an industrial scale, turning fertile land into a quarry. The construction of the cottage town “O.Krasa” was also recorded in his activities. It is important to note that all 60 hectares of land were previously under arrest in a case related to fraud.

Volodymyr Karplyuk tried to challenge the information about his connections with the development of the cottage town by filing a lawsuit against Stop Corruption. Initially, the courts supported his claims, but following the filing of a cassation appeal, the Supreme Court overturned the previous decisions, emphasizing the importance of freedom of speech and the limitations on criticism of public figures.

The court noted that the case materials demonstrate the significant importance of journalism in a democratic society and the media’s right to cover socially important topics, even if they may be provocative.

The Supreme Court’s final decision is not subject to appeal, which was an essential step in protecting freedom of speech in Ukraine. Already by the end of 2023, a new criminal case was opened against Karplyuk, in which he is suspected of embezzling property through the abuse of his official position.