Espreso. Global

Media law signed by Zelenskyy could undermine press freedom in Ukraine

31 December, 2022 Saturday
16:37

The law on media signed by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy could restrict press freedom in the country, critics say

client/title.list_title

The New York Times writes about this. 

The article says that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law on December 29 that expands the government's regulatory powers over the news media. At the same time, journalistic organisations warned that this step could undermine press freedom in the country.

Although some of the law's harsher provisions have been watered down in response to criticism, serious concerns about the regulator's independence remain, national and international media said on December 30. 

The law extends the powers of Ukraine's state broadcasting regulator to online and print media. Previous drafts gave the regulator the power to fine media outlets, revoke their licenses, temporarily block certain online publications without a court order, and require social media platforms and search giants such as Google to remove content that violates the law.

Zelenskyy, whose administration has been accused of undermining press freedom in recent years, in 2019 ordered the drafting of a law to tighten media regulation.

The measure was passed by Ukraine's parliament this month, along with a number of other bills that lawmakers said were intended to help the country meet European Union conditions for membership. 

But Ukrainian journalists and international press freedom groups raised concerns about the media bill as it was going through parliament, saying it went far beyond EU requirements and accusing the government of using membership commitments as an excuse to tighten control over the press.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, a nonprofit organization that fights for press freedom around the world, called on Ukrainian lawmakers to scrap the bill in September, saying it strengthens "state control over information at a time when citizens need it most."

The European Federation of Journalists, whose secretary general called an earlier draft of the law "worthy of the worst authoritarian regimes," said Dec. 30 that the legislation continues to contravene European standards for press freedom because the independence of the state media regulator, whose members are appointed by the president and parliament, cannot be guaranteed.

"Ukraine will demonstrate its European commitment by promoting free and independent media, not by establishing state control over information," said Ricardo Gutierrez, the federation's secretary general.

The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine said there was a lack of transparency during the consideration of the draft law, claiming that changes were made in closed meetings of parliamentary committees and that media representatives and the public were not given enough time to respond.

In a statement released before the Ukrainian Parliament voted on the bill, the union said the legislation would weaken freedoms that "distinguish Ukraine's social order from the regime of dictatorial Russia." 

The Parliament’s Main Legal Department also noted in an analysis published this month that it had been given little time to review the changes to the bill and that the wording of the law did not sufficiently address the risk of censorship.

Ukrainian officials rejected accusations that the EU requirements were being used as a cover for restricting press freedom. They said substantial changes to the draft law were made after consultations with media professionals and argued that fundamental changes to Ukraine's media legislation were overdue.

"Of course, this draft law is even broader than the EU directives, because we needed to change and modernize our media legislation, which has not been changed for 16 years," said Yevheniya Kravchuk, deputy head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Information Policy, after the bill was approved. 

At least one Ukrainian organization focusing on press freedom, the Kyiv-based Institute of Mass Information, said Dec. 29 it was largely satisfied with the revised legislation but would monitor its implementation. 

"To improve it, we will need to amend the Constitution, which, unfortunately, is impossible during martial law. This is one of our main plans for the future," said Oksana Romanyuk, Executive Director of the IMI. 

Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2024, Saturday
21 December
19:45
Exclusive
NATO troops in Ukraine will prevent Putin's next invasion - opposition politician Feygin
19:26
Exclusive
Russian troops desperate to cross Dnipro River in Kherson region at any cost - Ukrainian colonel
19:08
Russia ramps up aircraft shelter construction to counter Ukrainian drone attacks
18:47
Russian forces attempt to cross Dnipro River in southern Ukraine every day
18:30
Russian forces fine residents of occupied Luhansk region for 'abortion propaganda'
18:09
110 combat clashes occur on Russian-Ukrainian front: heaviest fighting in Kursk region
17:54
Poland donates three Mi-8, Bell 412-HP helicopters to Ukraine
17:31
OPINION
Ending war: fewer scenarios remain
17:12
Russia deploys over 550 guided bombs, 550 UAVs, 20 missiles to attack Ukraine this week - Zelenskyy
16:53
Exclusive
Russia intends to negotiate without ceasefire, says opposition politician
16:34
Ukraine's Armed Forces form unit to protect cultural heritage
16:20
Updated
Drones attack elite high-rise buildings in Russia's Kazan, explosions heard at gunpowder plant
16:16
Ukraine approves Wolly remote-controlled combat module for use in army
15:57
OPINION
Crimea: panic among 'relocated residents' becomes key negotiation tool
15:35
Exclusive
Ukrainian forces face repeated tactical traps since 2022, encirclement looms near Kurakhove
15:13
Russian units in Ukraine’s Kherson report sabotage, suicides
14:54
OPINION
Russia can be destroyed by local barons
14:32
EU hits record high in Russian gas imports in 2024 - media
14:10
Review
Russian forces attempt to encircle Ukrainian troops: battles near Kurakhove. Serhiy Zgurets' column
13:47
Unmasking Spanish-language media pushing Kremlin narratives (Part 2)
13:06
Guerrillas expose redeployment of Russian military equipment toward Kurakhove
12:52
Exclusive
Russia's cyberattack on state registries aims to undermine Ukraine's elections - journalist
12:31
211 combat clashes occur on Russian-Ukrainian front on Dec. 20 - General Staff
12:07
Review
From Vietnam to Ukraine: how TOW missiles have been taking out Russian tanks
11:48
Ukraine launches first robotic attack without infantry support - ISW
11:30
Updated
Russia attacks Ukraine with drones, missiles: casualties reported in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia
11:09
Russia launches 18 attacks on Ukraine ahead of UN Security Council meetings - Ambassador
10:51
Russia sets up TV and radio network to strengthen propaganda in occupied Ukraine
10:34
Russia loses 1,860 soldiers, 32 artillery systems, 10 tanks in one day of war in Ukraine
2024, Friday
20 December
21:30
Exclusive
“Russia planned Oreshnik attack, but something failed”: diplomat Chaly on Kyiv missile strike
21:10
Exclusive
Hacker attack on Ukraine's state registries is painful, but not catastrophic - cybersecurity expert
20:50
Ukrainian defenders repel Russian subversive groups near Kherson
20:25
OPINION
Putin admits Russia's war in Ukraine is driven by boredom
19:50
Fico blames Zelenskyy for gas crisis in Slovakia
19:29
Ukraine demands Orbán stop speculating on war, “Christmas truce”
19:01
146 combat engagements reported at front, Russian forces most active in Kursk sector
18:40
Germany sends additional IRIS-T air defense system to Ukraine
18:16
Ukraine's fiber-optic drones pass testing phase
17:50
Six embassies in Kyiv damaged in Russian missile attack
17:28
Lithuania to allocate €10 million for 'Danish model' implementation in Ukraine
More news