OPEN LETTER OF THE TEAM OF THE PRIAMYI TV CHANNEL TO UKRAINIANS

At these dire times for the country, the Priamyi TV channel is forced to appeal to its fellow citizens, because for more than a year the staff of the channel has not been able to work peacefully, as it is under total pressure from the authorities.

On July 8, 2020, in an exclusive interview with PRYAMYI TV channel, Oleh Koretskyi, head of the investigative team of the State Bureau of Investigation, stated that he had been pressured in the so-called “Priamyi Channel case” and had been ordered to arrest the TV channel. Koretskyi emphasized that such instructions were given by the first deputy director of the State Bureau of Investigation, a former lawyer of fugitive President Yanukovych, Oleksandr Babikov. Based on the statements of the head of the investigative group of the State Bureau of Investigation, Oleh Koretskyi, it can be argued that there was targeted pressure on the PRIAMYI TV channel.

The actions of the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting deserve special attention as well, which, unfortunately, became an instrument against the TV channel and during the first half of the year appointed three inspections of the PRIAMYI TV channel without any good reason and without justification. At the same time, not finding time to consider the applications for renewal of the license submitted by the company in December 2019. We believe that the purpose of these inspections is to deprive the PRIAMYI TV channel, which pursues an independent editorial policy and which broadcasts criticism towards the current government, of the opportunity to convey information to a multimillion audience by revoking the TV channel’s broadcasting digital license.

Currently, given the actions of the State Bureau of Investigation since last summer and the actions of the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting during January-June 2020, in our opinion, there is a detailed planned attack on the PRIAMYI TV channel, the purpose of which is to close this TV channel, which is a leader in the niche of information TV channels.

For almost three years, the PRIAMYI TV channel has been covering all the main events taking place both in our country and abroad. The hosts of the PRIAMYI TV channel have repeatedly invited representatives of various political forces to the studio to highlight their opinions.

PRIAMYI TV channel impartially covered all the events both near the walls of the State Bureau of Investigation and at protests as well as in the Verkhovna Rada. At the same time realizing the risks that the channel may become inconvenient for the new government.

We ask you all to assess the above and take measures to respond to the outright pressure and politically motivated prosecution of the broadcaster, in particular, urge the State Bureau of Investigation and the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting to stop illegal actions aimed at restricting the dissemination of objective information in the Ukrainian information space.

Також слідкуйте за “Прямим” у Facebook, Twitter, Telegram та Instagram.