Ukraine parliament session, September 2010. Photo:Ihor Rozkladay/Media Law Institute

Coinciding with the opening session of the Ukrainian Parliament this week, IMS and  ARTICLE 19 call on the members of  Parliament to put  freedom of expression on top of their agenda  

The increasing number of physical attacks on journalists including the recent disappearance of the editor Vasyl Klymentiev is one of many signs that media freedom in Ukraine is taking a turn for the worse. Only last week, two television channels, TV1 and 5 Kanal were stripped of their licenses by the Kyiv Court. 

In a letter sent by International Media Support (IMS) and Article 19, the Ukrainian Parliament is urged to adopt the Law on Access to Public Information, to introduce true public service broadcasting and ensure the protection of media workers.

Read the full letter and recommendations for action here in English. 
Read the Ukrainian language version of the letter here. 

Recommendations in brief

ARTICLE 19 and IMS call on the Ukrainian Parliament to urgently:

• Adopt the Law on Access to Public Information as an important step in making the right to information reality in the country.

• Draft and adopt a Law on Public Service Broadcasting which complies with international standards and transform the state-owned broadcaster to a genuine public service;

• Adequately equip the Parliamentary ad hoc commission in July this year to investigate censorship in the media, pressure on freedom of speech, and obstruction of journalistic activities;

• Review the Law on Television and Radio Broadcasting, introducing a clear and specific regime for the granting and revocation of licenses in a fair and impartial manner. In addition, the Parliament should inquire if any political pressure was exerted on the broadcasting regulator in its latest decision to revoke the licenses of two TV stations.