The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the new Ukrainian media law
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The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ, an international NGO headquartered in New York) has condemned Ukraine’s new media law.
This law was recently adopted in the first reading by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, it gives the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting the right to actually close any media outlet without a court decision. The National Council of Journalists of Ukraine has already come out against this violation of freedoms.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said in a statement that a review of Ukraine’s outdated media legislation is necessary if the country is to meet European Union standards. At the same time, it is noted that Ukrainian lawmakers should not use such reforms as a pretext for expanding state control over information.
“Legislators should develop a media bill in line with EU directives that includes strong guarantees for press freedom,” said Carlos Martinez de la Serna, program director for CPJ.
CPJ also recalled that on July 21, the head of the Verkhovna Rada committee on humanitarian and information policy, Nikita Poturayev, said that the bill had been sent to the European Commission for recommendations, and that Parliament would not vote on the bill until those recommendations were received. This was not followed.
CPJ also drew attention to Ukrainian Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko on July 20 stating his support for the bill, noting that it would help fight Russian propaganda. CPJ reached out to Tkachenko asking for clarification on exactly what this assistance might look like, but received no response.
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