Penitentiary service denies Lutsenko's statement on being banned to talk to journalists

16:47, 03.10.2012 1 min read

The State Penitentiary Service has said that former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko has not asked the leadership of the Mena penal colony to grant him permission to talk to journalists.

"Representatives of the television channel who accompanied the ombudsperson on her visit to the institution also filed no formal request to the penitentiary for permission to interview Lutsenko," the press office of the penitentiary service reported.

As reported, a statement posted on the official Web site of the People's Self-Defense Party on Wednesday said that employees of the penitentiary service had asked Lutsenko to write a statement about his alleged refusal to meet with the journalists due to his poor health. This statement was submitted via the ex-minister's wife, Iryna Lutsenko.