On December 29th Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law that some are calling “controversial,” as the bill essentially would allow the Ukraine to prohibit certain news publications they do not want allowed to be seen.
According to the Kyiv Independent, ‘the law dramatically expands the media regulator’s powers and gives it the authority to shut down news sites that are not officially registered as media without a court ruling.’ The Ukrainian state-run media publication Pravda did not disclose the full power of this bill.
According to Ukraine’s Institute of Mass Information, under the law, the media regulator is likely to be controlled by the incumbent authorities because its members are appointed by Zelensky and the Ukrainian parliament, where his party has an absolute majority.
The Kyiv Independent wrote
Authority’s reasoning behind passing this bill is to further align themselves with European Union law whilst combating Russian propaganda. One of the criteria for the Ukraine’s ascension to the bloc is media reform. ‘The EU wanted Ukraine to adopt legislation to fight the influence of vested interests on the media,’ the Kyiv Independent explained.
However this bill has been criticized by journalist organizations as a ploy to introduce even more media censorship.
When the law was being discussed in July the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) wanted authorities to withdraw the draft, asserting that many of these provisions are contrary to “European values.” ‘It proposes to give arbitrary and disproportionate regulatory powers to the national regulator, the National Council on Broadcasting, which would have authority not only over audiovisual media, but also over print and digital media,’ the Federation said.
The coercive regulation envisaged by the bill and in the hands of a regulator totally controlled by the government is worthy of the worst authoritarian regimes. It must be withdrawn. A state that would apply such provisions simply has no place in the European Union.
Media regulation should be implemented by a body independent of the government and its objective should be media independence, not media control.
EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez.
NUJU calls on the Ukrainian authorities to withdraw this bill and to draft a specific bill for the regulation of audiovisual media, in line with the EU directives. We are ready to dialogue with the authorities to draft a new media law in line with European legal standards.
National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) Presidident Sergiy Tomilenko, said
The authors of this bill claim that it should be adopted immediately in order to bring Ukraine closer to Europe! But in reality, this bill separates us from Europe. It will make the life of journalists in Ukraine impossible!
Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine (IMTUU) President Serhiy Shturkhetskyy said
That same month The Committee to Protect Journalists made similar assertions.
In September NUJU once again stated that this law was “the biggest threat to free speech in (Ukraine’s) independent history.”
We remind you that from the first days of his compilation and tenure, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly declared that he is the leader of the free people for freedom. At the same time, such an arbitrary adoption of the current version of the draft law “On Media” may cast the show of a dictator over it.
NUJU wrote in a latter
In March of last year The WinePress reported that Zelensky and the Ukrainian government forcibly took over the media in the country, claiming their reasoning was to stop Russian propaganda, which ultimately resulted in Ukraine only pumping out there own.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
Proverbs 29:12
Indeed, little Zelensky is nothing more than a puppet tyrant and literal actor, and all Ukraine has done since day one is showcase just how wicked and corrupt that nation is.
Regardless of how it all ends, these restrictions are not going away as long as the current regime is allowed to remain to stay in power. One by one, day by day, crisis by crisis; freedoms and liberties get erased.
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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They all have something to hide, otherwise they would not need to do that.
There is war in Ukraine, so democracy cannot work as prescribed. The Kremlin media and their vassals like the author of this site are getting an orgasm while the “little Zelensky, a tyrant puppet and a literal actor” is winning the war of aggression waged by a murderous tyrant and war criminal.
Proverbs 17:4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
You’re a fool whose brain is operated by the media, obediently believing everything you are told. Where were you since 2014 when Ukraine was having all sorts of problems and the government was overthrown? I didn’t see narcissists like you giving a hoot at all the dying and destruction that has been happening for 8 years before 2022…
And since you don’t like what I have to report, then why do you still continue to comment and subscribe to The WP? I suggest you find a different publication.