Dear Mr. President!
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!
The morning of March 4 staff of Espresso TV channel met with unprecedented news - representatives of Concern of Radio Broadcasting, Radio and Television (Concern RRT), without any legal reasons, just pointing on their own minds turned off Espresso broadcasting from T2 digital network.
Never the less since the beginning of active phase of Russian invasion, there have been three "successful" attempts to shut down Ukrainian TV channels. First one was made during Russian missile strike shut on Kyiv TV tower, the second one - as a result of occupation of Kherson by Russian forces, and the third one this morning, as a result of so called alleged Ukrainian Concern RRT.
From this morning, RRT Concern has taken its place among Russian terrorist forces and collaborators who are deliberately working against Ukraine and Ukrainians, killing civilians and limiting Ukrainians' ability to watch Ukrainian television.
That’s second time in the history of Ukraine to shut down Espresso TV channel. The first one was during the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 on participation of Yanukovych. But then they couldn’t do it. The second try is today, during the active phase of Russian-Ukrainian war, and, apparently, on the instructions of the Kremlin forces, which were implemented by RRT Concern today.
We didn’t receive any answers with any explanation from RRT Concern. But, obviously, if these were legal actions, it wouldn’t be difficult for RRT Concern to justify their actions.
At the moment we can say for sure: that neither National Television Council of Ukraine and Radio Broadcasting, which establishes the rules for TV channels, nor the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, which regulates martial law, nor the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine or any other authorized state organization didn’t made any decisions to shut down Espresso TV channel. The only state organization that have the aim to close Ukrainian TV channels is the Ministry of Defense of Russian Federation and their Kremlin officials. If it turns out that the Ukrainian RRT Concern is complying with the decision of the Kremlin Ministry of Defense, obviously, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies should respond accordingly.
Espresso TV channel has always taken and continues to take pro-Ukrainian position. "Ukrainian worldview" is not only our slogan, but also part of ideology of each employee of our TV company. Fully aware of the challenges facing our country today, we focus on war, uniting the nation for common victory, and informing our viewers about official information from public authorities.
We also help our foreign partners to inform Ukrainians what they are doing, how they are helping our country to win. For that reason on the basis of relevant agreements, daily information blocks of our foreign partners are regularly broadcast on Espresso - BBC News (UK), Radio Liberty, Voice of America (USA), France 24 (France).
Deprivation of the USA, Great Britain, France, other partner countries, opportunities to communicate with Ukrainians through their daily and weekly broadcasts on Espresso TV are an obvious provocation aimed at complicating relations between Ukraine and strategic partners, whose support is especially important for Ukraine today. At the same time, at a time when difficult negotiations are underway to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons, an attempt is being made to replace the subject of discussion with discussions on freedom of speech and the outright illegal cessation of broadcasting in Ukraine by a pro-Ukrainian TV channel.
We demand from RRT Concern to stop anti-Ukrainian activities and act according to the law.
If turning off Espresso was a technical error, it should be corrected immediately.
Otherwise, the deliberate continuation of disconnection of Ukrainian Espresso TV channel from the Ukrainian digital network T2 can be seen as participation in war against Ukraine on the side of Kremlin. We appealed to the authorized law enforcement agencies to verify these facts and open criminal proceedings against officials who work for RRT Concern on a side of collaborator, treason and other crimes, which will be reported to all embassies of partner countries. We are convinced that support of Espresso TV channel will be unquestionable.
Mr. President, we have repeatedly stated and continue to declare our joint struggle against Russia. At the same time, during the period of martial law and armed aggression against Ukraine, the struggle in Ukraine against independent pro-Ukrainian media doesn’t contribute anything to a common victory. We are convinced that you also share this position and will use everything possible to help and stop this lawlessness, which is damaging Ukraine's international image, especially during this difficult period.
Together to the victory! Glory to Ukraine!