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Journalists See Specter of Censorship in Ukraine's Proposed Media Laws

Nataliya Leonova

   WASHINGTON/KYIV - Journalists and free speech advocates say proposed
   laws to regulate Ukraine's media pose a threat to free expression and
   independent reporting in the eastern European country.

   Before ascending to Ukraine's highest office last year, President
   Volodymyr Zelenskiy had campaigned on a pledge to limit the influence
   of oligarchs over national news outlets while safeguarding all media
   platforms against Russian disinformation and propaganda.

   A handful of Ukraine's wealthiest oligarchs dominate its [1]media
   marketplace, whose major television and radio broadcasters are known
   for taking editorial cues from owners. Zelenskiy's primary political
   backer, billionaire tycoon Igor Kolomoisky, owns 1+1, one of Ukraine's
   largest media conglomerates.

   Critics say that, if passed, the laws could too easily be exploited as
   instruments of state censorship. But supporters say they have a civic
   duty to both protect media independence and thwart disinformation.

   'Key duty of the state'

   "The key duty of the state is to defend its information space and to
   give its citizens the right to obtain truthful information," said
   Anatoliy Maksymchuk, the first deputy minister of culture.

   Introduced by Zelenskiy's ruling lawmakers in December, a draft media
   regulation law would create a television and radio licensing process
   led by a commission authorized to ban media outlets.

   Another disinformation law put forward by the Culture, Youth and Sports
   Ministry in January proposes classifying journalists in three groups:
   information distributors, journalists, and professional journalists.

References

   1. https://bit.ly/2UpiWfj

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