Ukrainian journalist Ekaterina Rodak from NGL.media has accused 87-year-old professor of the journalism faculty at Ivano Franko Lviv National University, Yosif Los, of harassment. The professor responded to the allegations, denying any involvement in the incident.
On February 25, the journalist posted on her Facebook page, stating that she became a victim of harassment at the age of 19. According to Ekaterina, when she was still a student, Los invited her for a private conversation in his office, supposedly to discuss foreign media. However, the conversation was about something entirely different.
The journalist claims that during this meeting, the professor urged her to stop socializing with friends, avoid working in online media, and refrain from wearing clothing that revealed her knees, as it allegedly "excited the professors." Following this, the professor began touching the girl's hands and asking her how she felt. Their communication ended, and afterward, Rodak avoided meeting Los alone.
She stated that she felt awful, but at the time, thought she was exaggerating the situation and that nothing serious had occurred. Ultimately, the journalist decided to bring the story to light to support victims of harassment and draw attention to the professor's behavior.
"Everyone at the journalism faculty knew that this professor harassed students. Well, not everyone. The overwhelming majority. And it all boiled down to 'hee-hee, ha-ha', oh, he kissed someone on the lips, touched someone, said something inappropriate to someone - but he's an old man, just a little guy with a 'greeting', don't exaggerate. This perception of his actions allowed the professor to continue his behavior. Because 19-year-old girls don't always know how to set their boundaries," - wrote Ekaterina.
In a comment to "Suspilne", Yosif Los reacted to the accusations. He claims that the words of his former student are lies and slander.
"This is a provocation, this is absurd. There was absolutely nothing, leave me alone. I categorically do not want to deal with people who have no conscience. Provocateurs! They don't like that I stand for Ukraine. It's all lies, it's slander," - said the professor.
He added that in his 53 years of teaching, no one has complained about his work; on the contrary, he has received positive evaluations at the highest level. In the end, the professor stated that his conscience is clear.
"I have been teaching at the university for 53 years. My evaluations are at the highest level. They just don't like that someone stands for Ukraine, that someone wants to bring order to the faculty. I have a clear conscience after 53 years at the university," - noted the man.
Today, February 26, it became known that Los has been suspended from his position at the university. An investigation into the professor's activities is currently ongoing.
Recall that earlier a star of the play "For Two Hares" revealed how the theater director harassed her at the age of 20. Tamara Yatsenko shared that the incident occurred in Ivano-Frankivsk. The actress was forced to flee the city at night, leaving her belongings at a hotel due to the excessive attention from the theater's director.