In an open letter, IMS and ARTICLE 19 call on the new President of Ukraine to stand for Freedom of Expression 

Read the full letter here.

On the occasion of the presidential inauguration in Ukraine last week, ARTICLE 19 and International Media Support (IMS) sent an open letter to the newly elected President , Viktor Yanukovych, urging him to respond immediately to serious shortcomings within the legislative and policy framework related to Freedom of Expression and freedom of media in Ukraine. In particular, ARTICLE 19 and IMS called on the newly elected President to take immediate and concrete steps to ensure that Ukraine adopts a progressive law on public service broadcasting in compliance with European and international standards. Such a law is still lacking in the country, despite several previous initiatives.

The letter also points to the lack of comprehensive legal and policy framework on access to information, the need to privatise state-owned media and the need to ensure transparency of media ownership to address concerns about the control of various political and economic interests over mainstream media in Ukraine.

- We believe that for Ukraine to continue democratic reform of its institutions and economy, the Government should ensure that the media community in Ukraine is protected and regulated by a media policy and legislative environment that is based on international standards, says Jesper Højberg, Executive Director of International Media Support.

- We urge the new President of Ukraine to treat reforms related to freedom of expression and media in the country as a priority on his agenda. We also hope he will take all necessary steps to ensure that genuine progress is made in related reforms that have taken painstakingly long time in Ukraine," notes ARTICLE 19 Executive Director Agnès Callamard.

IMS and ARTICLE 19 are currently implementing a joint media programme in Ukraine and are willing and ready to provide full support and expertise in the future development of freedom of speech and freedom of media in Ukraine.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For more information please contact: Barbora Bukovska, ARTICLE 19 Senior Director for Law, at barbora[snabela]article19.org or +44 20 7324 2500 or Antonina Cherevko, IMS Programme Officer for Ukraine, at ac[snabela]i-m-s.dk or +380 50 410 27 68.

Read the letter in Ukrainian here: http://www.article19.org/pdfs/letters/ukraine-president-of-ukraine-ukrainian.pdf (in Ukrainian).

International Media Support (IMS) is a non-profit organisation working with media in countries affected by armed conflict, human insecurity and political transition. In more than 30 countries worldwide, IMS helps to strengthen professional practices and ensure that media and media workers can operate under challenging circumstances. This statement is issued within the framework of the IMS Media and Democracy Programme for Central and Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

ARTICLE 19 is an independent human rights organisation that works globally to protect and promote the right to Freedom of Expression. It takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees free speech. For more information on ARTICLE 19 please visit www.article19.org