The Ukrainian party Opposition Platform - For Life (HRE) criticized Bill No. 2693 On Media, which is being promoted by deputies from the presidential party Servant of the People. The HRE called the document “dictatorial,” reproaching its initiators for striving to destroy freedom of speech in the country, bring the media under control and eliminate dissent.
“As a result of the so-called revision, this bill still contains most of the dictatorial norms. Contrary to the constitution, Ze-authorities are trying to legitimize censorship, expand the powers of the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting to regulate the entire information space. To turn this body completely controlled by the authorities into a whip for independent journalism, ”the press service of the Opposition Platform - For Life party said in a statement.
The HRE demanded that the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky, the government and the party "Servant of the people" to stop the attack on freedom of speech. From the point of view of the opposition deputies, the document “should be removed from the agenda of the parliament as anti-democratic and not meeting the standards of a modern civilized state”.
Scandalous Bill
The initiative of bill No. 2693 belongs to the current Minister of Culture of Ukraine (formerly to the deputy from the Party of the Servant of the People) Alexander Tkachenko, parliamentarians from the same party Nikita Poturaev, Yevgenia Kravchuk and others. The first version of the document was prepared at the end of 2019 and subsequently finalized.
On June 29, the Ukrainian online publication STRANA.ua published excerpts from the updated version of draft law No. 2693 On Media, which will be submitted for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada after July 1. According to journalists, the document has not undergone significant changes, and the most controversial norms, on the contrary, have been tightened.
STRANA.ua notes that the new bill, like the previous one, significantly expands the powers of the National Broadcasting Council. The supervisor should be given the right to access various online platforms and search engines with the requirement to restrict access to media information to which any sanctions have been applied.
In addition, as reported by journalists, it is proposed to give the National Council the authority to impose fines, deprive media of licenses and registration, and prohibit online media in Ukraine. However, for all of the above, except for fines, the regulator will have to get an appropriate court decision.
The bill also lists violations that entail the imposition of sanctions.
So, among other things, the bill prohibits mentioning in a positive context the communist leaders of the USSR and Soviet authorities, as well as popularizing the state institutions of the "aggressor country" (we are talking about the Russian Federation). Also, the media and bloggers do not have the right to demonstrate disregard for the state language of Ukraine, to deny or question the “occupation” of parts of Ukrainian territories.
In addition, as STRANA.ua writes, in the near future, the National Council for Broadcasting is awaiting reorganization and staff renewal - half of the members of the supervisory body will be dismissed. As a result, this institution should be under the control of the president’s office.
- Gettyimages.ru
- © Atit Phetmuangtong / EyeEm
A RT source in the Servant of the People party claims that Vladimir Zelensky is personally interested in promoting media reform. Against the background of a falling rating, the President of Ukraine expects to strengthen control over the media and social networks, where the volume of criticism against him is growing.
“The president’s circle apparently believes that tightening control over the work of the media will not allow journalists to print unsightly truth. I think that Kiev’s western partners will support the Ukrainian media in this matter and will not allow the adoption of a scandalous bill. Of course, they look at many questions through their fingers, but even for them it is too much, ”the source said.
“Megacontrol over all media”
Bill No. 2693 in the previous edition caused a negative reaction in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The OSCE believes that the document must be brought into line with international standards in order to avoid a negative impact on media freedom.
The organization called on the initiators of the bill to more clearly establish restrictions on the dissemination of information that affect national security issues. In addition, the OSCE believes that sanctions should concern the content, and not the platforms that distribute it.
At the end of June, an updated version of Bill No. 2693 was criticized by the professional community of Ukraine. More than a hundred TV presenters and journalists with different political views signed an open letter to Vladimir Zelensky, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Dmitry Razumkov and heads of relevant parliamentary committees. In it, they pointed out the danger of the spread of censorship in the country and the endowment of institutions of power with the power to "establish the truth."
Journalists drew attention to the vague wording and excessively broad powers that government agencies, including the National Broadcasting Council, can be vested with. According to them, they go beyond "the limits defined by the constitution of Ukraine."
“The bill provides for the possibility of blocking anyone on the Internet, even if it is not a mass media, .. as well as the possibility of canceling media registration on the basis of very broadly formulated reasons, which could lead to a ban on all media content for an indefinite period,” journalists complained .
- The meeting of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Freedom of Speech
- © komsvobslova.rada.gov.ua
In turn, the chairman of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NSJU) Sergey Tomilenko said that bill No. 2693 is aimed at “protecting the government from journalists” by imposing sanctions and monitoring the dissemination of information and opinions.
“To engage in the strengthening of media regulation at a time when some independent media outlets in the country cease operations and others reduce the volume and dismiss workers, this is to demonstrate the absolute insensitivity of the authorities to the real needs of society,” wrote Tomilenko on Facebook.
The head of the NSJU called the National Broadcasting Council "a politically engaged body." According to him, as part of this institute, "there is not a single representative directly from the media, journalists or advocate for freedom of speech."
In the NSJ require to remove the bill from consideration of the Verkhovna Rada. The organization said that the updated document retained the “idea of establishing mega-control over all media” and ignored the arguments of the professional community.
"Reining in disloyal media"
A RT source in the Batkivshchyna party believes that Zelensky and his entourage perceive the work of journalists as an obstacle to political activity.
“The president’s office does not like the fact that the media regularly publish incriminating materials about the current ruling elite. Therefore, literally, the persecution of journalists began. For example, the head of the president’s office, Andrei Yermak, is now initiating criminal liability for the publication of secret negotiations of officials, ”the representative of the Fatherland said.
Interlocutor RT in the party "European Solidarity" doubts that bill No. 2693 will go through the Verkhovna Rada and will eventually be signed by Zelensky. According to him, if the document is adopted, "the president will have to explain to Western leaders the reasons for supporting frankly undemocratic norms."
- President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky
- Reuters
- © Gleb Garanich
In a RT commentary, the director of the Kiev Institute for Analysis and Policy Management, Ruslan Bortnik, emphasized that the announced reform of the media sphere is annoying in society and has little chance of adoption. The political scientist explained the persistent promotion of the bill by representatives of the “Servant of the People” party by the government’s desire to put additional pressure on the media.
“The state is trying to make journalists more or less tame and dependent. The current oppressive atmosphere creates the feeling that it is beneficial for someone within the government to curb disloyal media and to ensure, to one degree or another, state control over the media, ”says Bortnik.
The president of the Center for System Analysis and Forecasting Rostislav Ishchenko looks at the situation somewhat differently. In an interview with RT, he said that Zelensky is unlikely to receive serious benefits from the adoption of the bill on media. According to the expert, the president is rapidly losing public support and tightening control over the media will no longer help reverse this trend.
“Zelensky, in spite of his television past, is not a fighter for freedom of speech. Yes, before coming to power, he laughed at the stage from all politicians and oligarchs of the country. But it was the freedom of speech that Kolomoisky organized for him. And as the head of state, Zelensky has perfectly integrated himself into a system that is aimed at promoting Russophobia and suppressing dissent, ”said Ishchenko.