Stop oppression of “Priamiy”: “Rukh Oporu Kapituliatsii” published an appeal to Zelenskyi
Well-known Ukrainian scientists, writers, journalists, and public figures addressed an open letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi demanding an end to politically motivated persecution of TV channels and other media outlets not controlled by the authorities.
“We demand an end to the politically motivated persecution of freedom of speech in Ukraine
Oppression of freedom of speech is intensifying in Ukraine.
In the first six months of 2020, experts from the Institute of Mass Media recorded 112 cases of violations of freedom of speech in Ukraine. Among them, 86 concerned physical aggression against journalists.
The Priamyi. Espreso and UA: Public Broadcasting TV channels are under systematic pressure from the State Bureau of Investigation and the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting.
As a result of unjustified sequestration of the state budget, the only Crimean Tatar TV channel ATR almost closed. As a result, the refugee channel, support of which has to be provided, in particular according to the February 2016 EU Parliament resolution, is on the verge of closure and is still unable to resume broadcasting in full due to last year’s debts and the forced dismissal of most journalists. For the first time in the last 5 years, there is no systematic state support for the ATR channel, which broadcasts 24/7 throughout the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea in three languages: Ukrainian, Crimean Tatar and Russian.
If the numerous visits of DBR (State Bureau of Investigation) representatives and searches at the “Public”, seizure of documents and other actions regarding the “Priamyi” channel could be at least interpreted, albeit with great caution, in the legal plane, then after the open confession of the head of the investigative group of the State Bureau of Investigation Oleh Koretskyi that the DBR management set him the task of arresting the Priamyi TV channel, the tables have turned.
It is a conscious attempt of the authorities to take illegal actions aimed at limiting the dissemination of objective “information” in the Ukrainian information space, and thus to launch an attack on freedom of speech, the activities of journalists and the fundamental principles of a democratic society.
Outrageous are also the actions of the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting, which appoints outright unfounded inspections of the “Priamyi”, the purpose of which is to openly ordered cancelation of the TV channel’s license.
Moreover, the National Council has appointed an audit of another broadcaster, which in its information policy demonstrates a state position and an objective view of events. It is about the inspection of the Espreso TV channel for broadcasting programs of the Ukrainian services “Radio Liberty” and “BBC NEWS Ukraine”.
At the same time, the media that retransmit Kremlin propaganda, comment on the domestic political situation in the country, spreading Kremlin fakes about the alleged civil war in Donbas and the so-called foreign rule of Ukraine, feel themselves completely free in the information space of the country. These are at least four TV channels that are under the influence of pro-Kremlin activist Viktor Medvedchuk – NewsOne, 112 Ukraine, ZIK and Inter (80% of the shares), which feel much more free than national democratic channels.
“Priamyi” and other state channels mentioned above are currently the leaders of information broadcasting with a firm patriotic, democratic, European position, which is critical in the conditions of Russia’s informational war against Ukraine. Experts who are critical of the current government have the opportunity to express themselves on their broadcasts. But all over the world, criticism is an integral part of the democratic process, and the channel only captures society’s deep frustration with the unprofessional actions of the authorities.
The desire to stop the broadcasting of “Priamyi” does not come directly from the National Council or the DBR, which, in this case, are used as instruments of pressure from the country’s top management on the independent information space.
We must emphasize that such a policy contradicts European values and Ukraine’s European choice.
We express our full support to the staff of all independent media, including the TV channels “Priamyi”, “UA: Public Broadcasting”, ATR and “Espreso”, and demand the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi to stop the pressure on the media beyond the control of the authorities.
We draw attention to the need to focus information policy efforts on countering Russia’s attempts to present its military aggression against Ukraine as an “intra-Ukrainian conflict” and the anti-state activities of the pro-Russian fifth column inside the country.
Kyiv, July 29, 2020″.
The appeal was signed by:
1. Viacheslav Briukhovetskyi, Hero of Ukraine, Honorary President of National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
2. Yurii-Bohdan Shukhevych, Hero of Ukraine, Ukrainian politician, People’s Deputy of Ukraine of the VIII convocation, long-term political prisoner.
3. Volodymyr Vasylenko, diplomat, public figure, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Representative of Ukraine to the UN Human Rights Council (2006-2010), member of the Strategic Council of the Surrender Resistance Movement.
4. Yuri Andrukhovych, writer.
5. Serhii Kvit, Professor of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
6. Volodymyr Omelian, politician, Minister of Infrastructure 2016-19
7. Yaroslav Yatskiv, academician, member of the Initiative Group “First of December”.
8. Yosyf Zisels, member of the Initiative Group “First of December” and SR ROK.
9. Yurii Shcherbak, writer, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine.
10. Volodymyr Ohryzko, diplomat, politician, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2007-2009), member of the SR ROK.
11. Ihor Kozlovskyi, theologian, president of the Center for Religious Studies and International Spiritual Relations, member of the Initiative Group “First of December”, a prisoner of conscience of the so-called “DNR”.
12. Danylo Lubkivskyi, diplomat, public figure, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2014), member of the SR ROK.
13. Ihor Huk, professor of medicine, foreign member of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
14. Mykhailo Honchar, President of the Center for Global Studies (Strategy XX1), Member of the SR ROC
15. Aleksandra Hnatiuk, professor of history at National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, member of the Initiative Group “First of December”.
16. Yevhen Bystrytskyi, philosopher.
17. Mykhailo Basarab, political scientist, member of the presidium of the Public Commission for Investigation and Prevention of Human Rights Violations in Ukraine.
18. Olena Stiazhkina, Doctor of Historical Sciences, writer.
19. Andriy Levus, co-coordinator of the Surrender Resistance Movement.
20. Mykola Riabchuk, Honorary President of the Ukrainian PEN Club.
21. Roman Bezsmertnyi, politician, diplomat, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine (2005), member of the Strategic Council of the Surrender Resistance Movement.
22. Hennadii Boriak, deputy Director of the Institute of History of Ukraine of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
23. Ihor Lapin, ATO veteran, People’s Deputy of Ukraine of the 8th convocation.
24. Leonid Finberg, Director of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Center for the Study of the History and Culture of Eastern European Jewry, Editor-in-Chief of the “Dukh i Litera” publishing house.
25. Serhii Vysotskyi, journalist, People’s Deputy of Ukraine of the 8th convocation.
26. Bronislav Tutelman, artist.
27. Mykola Horbal, poet, former political prisoner.
28. Oleksandr Ivanov, one of the coordinators of the Surrender Resistance Movement, the transition to Ukrainian initiative.
29. Borys Potapenko, Chairman of the Council of Ukrainian State Organizations of the World (RUDOS).
30. Oleksandr Habovych, PhD in physical and mathematical sciences. Institute of Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
31. Ihor Mazur, officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, human rights activist.
32. Yurii Honcharenko, Foundation for the Support of Democratic Initiatives.
33. Volodymyr Kuznietsov, PhD. Professor.
34. Ilmi Umerov, Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people.
35. Oles Horodetskyi, chairman of the Christian Society of Ukrainians in Italy.
36. Stanislav Fedorchuk, NGO Ukrainian People’s Council of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
37. Vakhtang Kebuladze – PhD, Professor of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.
38. Orest Stetsiv, League of Ukrainian Canadians.
39. Mykola Hrytskovian, Organization for the Defense of the Four Freedoms of Ukraine (OOCHSU).
40. Serhii Riabchenko, Professor, Corresponding Member of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
41. Sviatoslav Boiko, musician, public figure.
42. Solomiia Farion, Chairman of the NGO Youth Nationalist Congress.
43. Oleksandr Bakai, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Head of the Department of National Research Center “Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology” of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
44. Sviatoslav Marynin, a member of the founders board of the socio-political movement “Mezha”.
45. Mykola Marchenko, Candidate of Law, Leading Expert of the Association of Ukrainian Lawyers.
46. Serhii Zhadan, writer.
47. Ivan Yaskovets, PhD in Physical and Mathematical Sciences, a leading researcher at the Institute of Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
48. Myroslav Hai, public figure, head of the “Myr i Ko” charity foundation.
49. Stefan Romaniv, co-chair of the Union of Ukrainian Organizations of Australia.
50. Serhii Parkhomenko, director of the Oleksandr Nikonorov Center for Foreign Policy Studies.
51. Vitalii Ovcharenko, Movement of Migrants of Ukraine.
52. Taras Hrebeniak, NGO Ukrainian Affairs.
53. Dmytro Kharkov, Zaporizhzhia, public figure, security officer of the humanitarian mission.
54. Carl Voloch, blogger.
55. Tetiana Khorunzha, editor of the Forum of Nations newspaper.