The closed meeting with the head of the President's Office, Andriy Ermak, took place at the Kyiv School of Economics under the Chatham House Rule, which prohibits publishing direct quotes from participants. The publication 'Economic Truth' published quotes from the discussion, which sparked a debate about journalists' adherence to standards on social media. Serhiy Leshchenko, a member of the Supervisory Board of 'Ukrzaliznytsia' and advisor to the head of the President's Office, harshly condemned this publication, comparing journalists to violators of fundamental norms.
Details of Ermak's lecture
The president of the Kyiv School of Economics, Tymofii Milovanov, explained that such a meeting created a cozy space for dialogue between different people or groups of people with various viewpoints. Discussions were held in accordance with the Chatham House Rule to encourage open exchange of ideas without personal insults. Milovanov noted that the students who asked questions were partially identified, while the answers were fully attributed.
Leshchenko's criticism
Serhiy Leshchenko, a former journalist and member of the Supervisory Board of 'Ukrzaliznytsia', emphasized that journalists violated a basic standard by not disclosing any unlawful actions. He noted that the off-the-record statements in this case had no justification and only generated positive sentiment towards Andriy Ermak. Leshchenko's reaction sparked active discussion on social media, where many expressed their opinions on the matter.
At the closed meeting with the head of the President's Office, there was an open exchange of ideas while adhering to confidentiality rules. The publication of quotes from this event outraged Leshchenko and ignited discussions on social media.