Censorship, oligarch control over the media, Muravitsky’s arrest - Human Rights First report on the situation in Ukraine
The American NGO Human Rights First criticizes restrictions on freedom of speech in Ukraine in its recent report, "Democracy in Danger: Ukraine at a Crossroads Four Years After Euromaidan," reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
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“Ukrainian media is largely controlled by a handful of powerful individuals who use these platforms to promote the interests of their political and business partners.
According to a Chatham House report published in October 2017, “Ukrainian tycoons still own seven of the country’s eight major television channels... President Poroshenko has retained ownership of Channel 5 despite numerous calls to abandon it.”
At the same time, the Ukrainian government silences critics, giving arguments to those who doubt the country's commitment to democracy...
In May 2017, President Poroshenko signed a law imposing sanctions on 468 companies. The law blocked popular social networks and email services, obliging Ukrainian Internet providers to limit access to their sites, including Russian social networking sites and search engines,” the document says.
Recently, restrictions on the work of journalists have also increased.
“Since May, Kyiv’s attacks on the media have intensified. The SBU banned two Spanish journalists for their negative coverage of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Committee
The journalists' defense appealed to Poroshenko in September 2017, noting at least seven cases in the previous two months in which the SBU "brought charges against editors and journalists that appear to be politically motivated and (were made) in response to critical publications."
In May 2017, the Kherson District Court sentenced Eduard Kovalenko to five years in prison for expressing opposition to military mobilization during a public meeting in 2014. The following month, another court overturned the earlier acquittal of journalist and blogger Ruslan Kotsaba, who had been charged with treason for an online video in which he opposed Ukrainian military mobilization and for his alleged collaboration with Russian media.
In August 2017, the SBU arrested blogger and journalist Vasily Muravitsky, accusing him of “preparing and distributing anti-Ukrainian materials on behalf of Russian leaders.” These charges, which include treason, carry a possible sentence of 15 years in prison,” the report said.
English version :: Read in English: Censorship, oligarchic control of the media, Muravitsky's arrest – Human Rights First's report on the situation in Ukraine