"The unscrupulous actions of the RRT Concern can only be regarded as subversive work in favor of the invader" - an open letter of Espreso, Pryamiy and Channel 5 to the European Union Delegation in Ukraine

"Your dignity, Mr. Ambassador!

We use this case to appeal to you in connection with the unlawful and arbitrary actions of the Concern for Radio Broadcasting, Radio Communications and Television, which, from April 4, 2022, turned off the broadcasting of the Ukrainian patriotic and pro-Western television channels Channel 5, Pryamiy and Espreso.

From the first day of the full-scale Russian invasion, we, the journalists and the management of TV channels, have been involved in the information protection of Ukraine. As a single front with other TV channels and the entire Ukrainian journalistic community, we conveyed truthful information about the war to Ukrainian society and the whole world.

In these difficult times, we strictly observe the principle of a unified state information policy with full respect for freedom of speech and the media.

In pursuance of the relevant Decree of the President of Ukraine, the major share of our airtime was transferred to the broadcast of the general national marathon.

At the same time, the rest of the airtime was devoted to the corresponding author's programs and programs, which made it possible, to a certain extent, to ensure the observance and implementation of the legal rights and freedoms of journalists.

Shutting down the broadcast of our TV channels is illegal, since there is not a single valid document that would give legal grounds for the RRT Concern to cut us off from broadcasting. Also, not a single decision was approved by the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting, the only body that has the right to make decisions on the air of TV channels.

Such arbitrary actions of the RRT Concern can only be regarded as subversive work in favor of the invader - as playing along in favor of Russia, since they call into question the observance in Ukraine of the principles of freedom of speech and independence of the media, which are the basis of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. In addition, by such actions, officials illegally deprive the TV channels of the constitutional right to a profession, and the multi-million audience of access to objective information and an impartial analysis of the situation during the war.

We believe that the continuation of this situation will not create a favorable background for the high assessment by the European Commission of the state of Ukraine's compliance with the criteria for EU membership in terms of freedom of speech and the rapid granting of Ukraine the status of a candidate country, which we, journalists, strongly and unconditionally support.

Considering the foregoing, we appeal to you and your person to the European community with a request to help restore the violated rights of our TV channels and our journalists, as well as to further eliminate problematic issues in ensuring freedom of speech and the media in Ukraine.

 

Sincerely - TV channel teams:
 

CHANNEL 5 STAFF:

General Director Volodymyr Mzhelsky

Editor-in-Chief Gerasymova Iryna

Deputy Editor-in-Chief Oleksiy Shevchenko

Journalist, host Anna Miroshnychenko

Journalist, host Konotop Yana

Executive editor Nataliya Goncharova

Executive editor Yulia Belyaeva

Journalist, host Gubina Larysa

Chief producer Pechorin Sergey

Technical Director Bryzhan Konstantyn

Journalist Yuriy Pugach

Journalist Rybalka Anna

Journalist Yanina Sokolova

TzhK driver Bohdan Petro

Second editor Marchuk Maria

Second editor Tatiana Salganik

Journalist Voitenkov Nazar

Costume designer Anastasina Alla

Studio cameraman Aniskov Vladimir

Executive editor Oleksiy Pasak

Journalist of the International Information Department Tanska Myroslava

Journalist of the International Information Kataryna Khrystyna

Literary editor Shkuratova Tatiana

Executive editor Kushnirenko Yevgenia

Editor-in-Chief of 5.ua Skibinska Maria

Executive editor Tafiy Iryna

Editor Nikeyev Yuriy

Second editor Voloshyna Victoria

Second editor Tatiana Oliynyk

Deputy Editor-in-Chief Yuriy Zhupanov

Journalist Sysak Iryna

Broadcast Director Gazin Serhiy

Cameraman Serhiy Novikov

Journalist, host of "Secrets of War" Yana Kholodna

Regional Department Editor Agafonova Nina

Director Serelega Valentyna

Journalist Alina Burtseva

Host Kovach Vitaliy

Head of transport department Makar Valeriy

Chief administrator Makarenko Lilia

Studio cameraman Oleksandr Mashtaler

Regional news department journalist Shykula Marta

Editor Fedchun Svetlana

Broadcast Director Yuriy Starushkevych

Journalist, presenter, head of the international information department Mykhailo Prudnyk

Chief director Andriy Ivanenko

Journalist of the International Information Department Stefanova Nonna

Regional news department journalist Olga Dunska

Regional news department journalist Yana Lymarenko

Journalist, host Serhiy Barbu-Valchyshyn

Broadcast Director Khandozhko Irina

Chief make-up artist Olga Bogolyubova

Journalist Sofia Norenko

Regional news department journalist Denys Rozenkov

Website editor Pushkina Irina

Editor Reznik Alina

TZhK driver Rybakov Serhiy

IT Director Valeriy Sachenko

Regional news department operator Dmytro Dubina

Guest editor Maryna Stelmakh

Cameraman Selyaninov Igor

TZhK driver Gorban Mykola

Correspondent / News host Yevginia Kytaiva

Director Sydorko Marina

Camerawoman Ganka Kudryavtseva

TZhK driver Beschasny Oleksandr

Program service Director Obertinsky Andriy

News department journalist Olena Rybinska

Cameraman Oleksiy Ivanchenkov

Business trips producer Anna Galaychuk

Cameraman Oleksandr Koretsky

Assistant director Svetlana Oliynyk

Assistant director Pechena Maryna

Operator Usik Yuriy Serhiyovych

TZhK driver Vakhovsky Ruslan

Chief Economist Dmytro Zhdanov

Cameraman Mykola Chebotaryov

Projects Producer Nurkevych Nataliya

Editor-in-Chief Fedorova Anastasia

Secretary Golubenko Oksana

Editor, host Kelbus Kateryna

Director, assistant director Malynovska Daria

Chief operator Ershov Andriy

Journalist Valeria Pavlenko

Editor Neskoromova Olga

Editor-in-Chief Olga Miskova

Literary editor Victoria Koltsova

Website editor Victoria Teletska

Channel administrator Columbet Yevgenia

TZhK driver Krolikov Anatoliy

 ESPRESO TV CHANNEL STAFF:

Journalist, officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Tetyana Chornovol

Journalist, officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Artem Shevchenko

Director, soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Vasyl Yavorsky

Journalist and fighter of the Kyiv Region Territorial Defense Ilya Berezenko

Journalist, commander of the volunteer paramilitary formation Yevhen Miklushka

TV channel director Kateryna Yermolovych

TV channel First Deputy Director Iryna Gandziuk

TV channel Editor-in-Chief Anastasia Ravva

Technical Director Vadym Bakiko

Adviser on technological development Oleksandr Korostyshevsky

Chief director Svitlana Karnasyuk

Head of Network Distribution Department Oleksandr Pivniuk

Executive producer of information broadcasting Olga Kysla

Deputy Editor-in-Chief Serhiy Shinkar

Deputy Editor-in-Chief Tatiana Litvinova

Deputy Editor-in-Chief Olga Pastukhova

Graduation editor Svitlana Svitelska

Espresso website Editor-in-Chief Serhiy Rudenko

Espresso website Deputy Editor-in-Chief Andriy Nesterenko

Journalist, host Vitaliy Portnikov

Sound director Yuriy Gubriy

Program Director, Host Maria Gurska

Journalist, host Antin Borkovsky

Journalist, host Anna Valevska

Journalist, host Khrystyna Yatskiv

Broadcast Director Dragalchuk Anatoliy

Journalist, host Iryna Koval

Journalist, host Anzhelika Syzonenko

Journalist, host Yuriy Fizer

Journalist, host Oleksandr Morshchavka

Host Nataliya Didenko

Editor, presenter Anna Melnyk

Head of promotional department Serhiy Kharynovych

Director Yuriy Levochkin

Head of special projects Yaryna Yasynevych

Espresso.West studio Director Mykhaylo Khvoynytsky

Journalist, host Yegor Checherynda

Journalist, host Vasyl Zima

Journalist, host Vitaliy Bakumenko

Administrative Director Mykola Khomenko

Executive producer Nataliya Sorochan

Marketing Director Mykola Typusyak

Head of analytical department Andriy Vladymyr

Analyst Roman Kuntsky

Chief guest producer Iryna Uzlova

Guest producer Olga Yatsenko

Guest producer Julia Senysko

Executive editor Ulyana Panasyuk

Special Projects Manager Olga Okhrymenko

Editor, host Yevgen Pastukhov

Executive editor Andriy Pohoriliy

Journalist Aram Atanesyan

Journalist Valeria Pashko

Editor Anna Moroz

Editor Victor Derenyuk

Editor Nelya Tsygarnyk

Editor Olga Goriychuk

Journalist Sofia Kohut

Editor Yaryna Mykhailenok

Executive editor Olga Kysil

Executive editor Stas Gordienko

Editor Vasyl Mamelin

Journalist, host Olga Len

Journalist Iryna Ostrovska

Journalist Khrystyna Parubiy

Journalist, host Khrystyna Shkudor

Journalist Ulyana Gryshchuk

Producer Boris Yaskovets

Journalist Ivan Haruk

Journalist, host Andriy Yanitsky

Journalist Oleksandr Vashchuk

Host Andriy Malynovsky

Production Director Andriy Asin

Head of broadcasting service

Espresso.West Director Bohdan Bachynsky

Espresso.West Editor-in-Chief Igor Gulyk

Espresso.West Deputy Editor-in-Chief Olena Budko

Production Coordinator Galyna Nagorna

Line producer Galyna Stefanyk

Director Petro Kolodiy

Director Leonid Yeremenko

Director Pavlo Dudchenko

Director Andriy Papailo

Director of photography Yuriy Melnyk

Videographer Oleksandr Nikolenko

Studio operator Roman Kovalyuk

Videographer Andriy Polikovsky

Videographer Oscar Yansons

Videographer Danylo Peterymov

Videographer Yegor Nikitenko

Videographer Andriy Verstyuk

Journalist, host Mykola Veresen

Assistant director Yevgen Dudchenko

Assistant director Oleksandr Serebrov

Executive editor Oleksandra Revutska

Host Tetyana Chudakivska

Chief stylist Svetlana Zymoglyad

Sound director Oleksandr Synyuk

Stylist Daria Dolynska

Videographer Vadym Przesmetsky

Engineer Yevgen Daleka

Producer Leonid Kniazhytsky

Head of Air and Archives Service Andriy Ignatyuk

Sound director Dmytro Kovernyk

 

PRYAMIY TV CHANNEL STAFF:

General Director Volodymyr Stashevsky

TV channel Editor-in-Chief Victor Medvid

Website Deputy Editor-in-Chief Kateryna Pashchenko

Website Editor-in-Chief Kozyryatska Yana

Multimedia object designer Dmytro Makashov

Host Oleksandr Blyznyuk

Host Volodymyr Voloshyn

News feed editor Dmytro Muravsky

News feed editor Serhiy Fedorchuk

News feed editor Valeriy Terentyev

News feed executive editor Iryna Vakulyuk

News editor Kutsova Maria

YouTube editor Anton Komarov

Correspondent Olena Smereka

Correspondent Oleksandr Shapkin

Senior translator of TV channel's website Maryna Kovalchuk

YouTube editor Oleksandr Glukhinchuk

 Theme and title editor Garanzha Alona

Executive editor Vitaliy Zakharov

Website editor Olena Kovaleva

Website editor Poronik SS

Theme and title editor Anna Shevchenko

Website editor Iryna Korniyenko

Host Natalka Fitsych

Multimedia object designer Andriy Lisovy

Executive editor Yulia Artamoshchenko

Field editor Denys Karpenko

Editor Lidiya Karpenko

Executive editor Yulia Royenko

News feed editor Oleksiy Zaslotsky

Director Grygorenko Valentyna

 

Director Sheludko Valentyn

 

Operator Ocheretyaniy Yevgen

 

Correspondent Solomka Andriy

 

Creative director Dmytro Kuyevda