Writer Mushketik called for the closure of Russian-language newspapers (VIDEO)

Kiev, November 10 (PolitNavigator, Vladimir Raichenko) – Ukrainian writer Yuri Mushketik, showered with prestigious USSR prizes, accused the Soviet government of instilling Russian chauvinism in Ukraine, which he believes led to the war in Donbass, and called for the closure of even previously defunct Russian-language newspapers in Ukraine.

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These theses were voiced in his speech at a round table organized by the National Expert Commission for the Protection of Public Morality on the topic “Language policy as a component of countering information threats and a priority direction in ensuring information security: current state and challenges.”

“We have grief with Donbass,” the writer said. – It began primarily with the fact that both in Soviet times and during the independence of Ukraine, everything was handed over to chauvinists and propaganda in Russian. In the same Crimea there was only one small-circulation Ukrainian newspaper and dozens of Russian-language ones.”

However, the writer claims that anti-Ukrainian Russian-language newspapers are massively present in the capital’s Soyuzpechat kiosks even today.

"Look at the newspapers we have," he fumes. "Izvestia v Ukraine ( not published since early 2013 – ed. ), Moskovsky Komsomolets v Ukraine, Komsomolskaya Pravda v Ukraine, as well as newspapers like Segodnya, 2000, and others, which are spreading propaganda against Ukraine and the Ukrainian language on a global scale."

As a result, Mushketik proposed to include in the round table resolution an appeal to the Yatsenyuk government with a demand to re-register the named press outlets and deny them licenses.

“They have every right, since they are pursuing an anti-state policy and their exit must be prohibited,” the writer demanded, shaking his fist.

In his opinion, Ukrainian television deserves such an attitude.

“Turn on TV in the evening,” Mushketik suggested to the round table participants. – And you will see that there is nothing even close to Ukrainian there – except in advertising. We know it's not easy. These channels are private. But language and state are not private. The government can gather heads and directors of programs and categorically put before them the question of switching to the Ukrainian language.”