http://ukrainianweek.com/Society/47241
“ROAD CONTROL”
The civic project, run by Rostyslav Shaposhnykov, was founded three years ago to show how traffic police and other enforcement agencies violate the rights of Ukrainian drivers. The activists have been posting information and videos of violations and conflicts on its website roadcontrol.org.ua, as well as reports on journalists’ investigations, give details of the appeal process in court against the illegal actions of the police, and explain the nuances that can come up in the process of resisting the authorities. In this way, thousands of people across the country have seen examples of how they can stand up for their rights as well as the tools to do so. The activists also publish a newsletter called “Road Control”. The project faced sharp criticism and vilification on the part of the media close to the police on numerous occasions. In February 2012, the website was closed down as a result of a claim filed by Hennadiy Hetmantsev, a traffic inspector, accusing the site of the defamation of his honour, dignity and professional reputation. Four days later, pressure from the public forced the court to reverse its decision and the website was reopened. The latest incidents recorded by Road Control included a conflict with traffic police in the Zaporizhzhya Oblast, provoked by the discovery of a wad of fake administrative records held by officers. Rostyslav Shaposhnykov (photo) was severely beaten on 24 March. He quoted the attackers as saying that they had been ordered to do so."
