On October 22, the Kiev District Administrative Court opened proceedings in the case of canceling the license of the Ukrainian NEWSONE television channel. This was reported on the website of the institution.

The case will be considered in a simplified manner without a court hearing and summoning the parties, according to the materials already available to the court. Production began at the suit of the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting.

Recall that the television channel came into the attention of the authorities after it tried to hold a teleconference between the Russian Federation and Ukraine under the name “We Need to Talk” together with the Russian television channel “Russia 1”, the broadcast was scheduled for July 12. Programs of this format appeared during the Cold War - in 1986, between the Soviet Union and the United States, the first teleconference was held on topical political issues. Its leaders were Vladimir Pozner and Phil Donahue.

  • Ukrainian radicals rally against NewsOne and 112 Ukraine.
  • AFP
  • © Sergei Supinsky

However, the idea of ​​a similar bridge between Russia and Ukraine ran into fierce resistance from Ukrainian radicals.

So, the ex-commander of the national battalion "Azov" Andrei Biletsky said then that the goal of the teleconference was "repentance and surrender to the power of the Russian Federation." The politician then put forward an ultimatum to the Ukrainian authorities with a demand “to give an adequate answer” to the “informational Sabbath”. These attacks were actually joined by the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office, who hastened to initiate a criminal case with the wording “attempted treason” in connection with the NEWSONE broadcast plans.

As a result, his leadership had to cancel the program due to the information campaign against journalists and the threat of an attack on the building where the television channel is located.

At the same time, the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting appointed an unscheduled inspection of the channel. Soon, the council said that during the audit the facts of "inciting hatred" were allegedly revealed. As a member of the National Council, Sergei Kostinsky, the inspectors studied not only the announcement of the teleconference, but also other programs in which “Ukrainians were called fascists.” As a result of the audit, the National Council demanded that the court annul the NEWSONE license. In turn, the television channel’s leadership accused the council of “numerous violations of the law”, since claims from the state agency were not confirmed by quotes from television programs taking into account the context.

“ True is not needed in last”

The attack of the Kiev authorities on the Ukrainian NEWSONE television channel may be related to the fact that at the end of last year, the deputy of the Verkhovna Rada from the Opposition Platform - For Life faction Taras Kozak became its owner, experts say.

“It is enough to see who owns the TV channels to determine the cause of the attack by the authorities. NewsOne, “112” is owned by the nominal owner, but everyone knows that these channels follow the line of the leader of the party “Opposition Platform - For Life” Viktor Medvedchuk. In such a “democratic” way, the current government seeks to shut up the opposition’s mouth in Ukraine, ”Vladimir Zharikhin, deputy director of the Institute of CIS Countries, explained in an interview with RT.

It is worth recalling that the “112 Ukraine” and ZIK channels, which also belong to Taras Kozak, also had numerous questions from government officials. In September, the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine took away broadcast licenses from five companies of the 112 Ukraine holding, which paralyzed the broadcasting of the channel. As Sergei Kostinsky said then, the media systematically violated the terms of the license and received earlier warnings, and also did not eliminate the “violations” identified during inspections since 2014. The main complaint was quite formal - the regulator’s decision stated that five television companies included in the holding received broadcasting licenses almost throughout Ukraine, but instead of working as regional channels, they broadcast the 112 Ukraine channel, which and so has a license for nationwide satellite broadcasting.

In July, unknown persons fired at a building of a TV channel in Kiev with a grenade launcher. There were no victims and victims, a criminal case was initiated under the article “Terrorist Act”. However, until now, the investigation has failed to get on the trail of the performers or on the trail of the customers of the attack.

  • Reuters
  • © Valentyn Ogirenko

The raid was organized after the television channel announced the screening of the documentary “The Untold History of Ukraine”, produced by American director Oliver Stone. The film presents the history of events unfolding in Ukraine in 2014, the author of the film tries to figure out the root causes of both the “Euro Maidan” and the outbreak of conflict in the Donbass.

The channel’s plans to release the film aroused fury not only from unknown radicals, but also from the prosecutor general of Ukraine - then this post was held by Yuriy Lutsenko. He threatened the media with "responsibility" for showing the tape, in turn, the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting announced the start of an inspection of the channel.

As a result, the management of 112 Ukraine was forced to cancel the show. In a statement posted on the company's website, it was emphasized that neither President Vladimir Zelensky nor the Prime Minister (then Vladimir Groysman held this post. - RT ) condemned the "cynical actions of the patriots" who shot at the channel.

“In recent years, Ukrainians have repeatedly been able to make sure that the authorities really do not need them,” the statement said.

Another Taras Kozak TV channel - ZIK - also did not escape claims from Kiev.

In addition, an investigation has been launched against the owner of the channels. According to Kozak, he has already been interrogated immediately under three articles - “terrorism”, “financing of terrorism”, as well as “legalization of proceeds of crime.

On October 17, a temporary commission was formed in the Rada to investigate all three “opposition” television channels. The decision was supported by 278 deputies with the required minimum of 226 votes.

The decision on the establishment of the commission says that the investigation is being conducted to "limit the influence of the Russian Federation on the information space" and "counteract threats to national security."

The commission intends to verify the circumstances of the acquisition of NEWSONE, 112 Ukraine and ZIK, in addition, the channels are suspected of carrying out certain “information operations” that could undermine Ukraine’s defense and demoralize the army. The commission should submit a report on the results of the “investigation” six months later.

According to experts, the allegations of Kiev that the above channels affect the minds of Ukrainians are groundless. In fact, these media themselves follow the mood of their viewers, Vladimir Zharikhin is sure.

“Opposition channels on their agenda simply take into account the needs of their audience, which is about 20% of the total number of voters in the country. Moreover, this figure can grow, since many of those who voted for Zelensky are gradually disappointed in him. And the president understands this very well, ”the expert explained.

“Puppet in the hands of business clans”

As for the official position of the head of Ukraine, formally Vladimir Zelensky in every way distances himself from involvement in attempts to put pressure on the media. Answering questions from journalists about the fate of NEWSONE in early September, the president said that he would “never close any channels,” since he did not even have the authority to do so.

Subsequently, Zelensky promised to "sort out" the situation with the suit of the National Television Council to NEWSONE.

“They (in the National Council. - RT ) said that something was overdue there. That’s all I know, ”the politician said.

As noted by Vladimir Zharikhin, although Zelensky in every possible way opposed himself to Petro Poroshenko, and even now he continues to position himself as a democratic politician, in practice he is not.

  • President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky
  • Reuters
  • © Ints Kalnins

“Zelensky is afraid that if these TV channels talk about how he is avoiding fulfilling his promises, such as resolving the conflict in the Donbass, his rating will begin to fall even faster,” the expert said.

A similar point of view is shared by political analyst Anna Aryamova. According to her, the authorities in Kiev are “very afraid of criticism,” which will only increase over time, since the election program is, by and large, not being implemented.

“In fact, this situation does not personally depend on Vladimir Zelensky personally, since he himself is a puppet in the hands of business clans, in particular, Igor Kolomoisky. The latter invested in Zelensky’s promotion and was clearly not inclined to lose power. The same media, which are not fully engaged by the ruling elite, are trying to give an objective picture of events, which, of course, is disadvantageous for her, ”summed up Aryamova.