Media freedom situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate drastically, says OSCE representative

ISTANBUL, 9 May 2014 – OSCE Media Freedom Representative Dunja Mijatović today denounced once again the deteriorating media freedom situation in Ukraine, including new cases of kidnapping, attacks on and intimidation of journalists and attacks on the broadcasting infrastructure.

“I am appalled by this hostile environment for media and again call on all parties to refrain from restrictive and violent practices against journalists,” Mijatović said. “The attacks we are witnessing every day in Ukraine are nothing short of gross and severe violations of fundamental human rights.”

“There is an apparent need for a more consolidated effort to speak up and take action to stop these violations,” Mijatović said. “The international community, including international organizations, could and should do more.”

According to latest reports:

• Electric cables of the Kyiv TV tower were set on fire, reportedly as a result of arson. Broadcasts of some channels were suspended, but resumed shortly after the reserve cables were made operational;

• The editorial office of Provintsia newspaper was seized by armed people in uniform in Kostyantynivka and its staff was told to leave town (the newspaper’s office had been previously set on fire);

• Privet/Novosti Kramatorska newspaper and its web portal ceased operation, reportedly because of threats from separatists;

• Lanet Cable Operator switched off nine Ukrainian channels (Inter, Ukraine, 1+1, ICTV, STB, Noviy Kanal, 5 Kanal, 112 Ukraine and TVi) in Severodonetsk reportedly because of threats from separatists, which advised the operator to broadcast Russia 24 and LifeNews instead;

• Terrestrial broadcasting of 1+1 channel was switched off in Lisichansk;

• The crew of ICTV was stopped by unidentified people in uniform on the outskirts of Sloviansk, threatened, searched and interrogated. The journalists were set free but their equipment was confiscated;

• An armed, separatist group took control of the Donbass and Union channels in Donetsk;

• The crew of Russian TVC channel was denied entry to Kyiv by the Ukrainian Border Guard Service;

• Nikolai Ryabchenko, a journalist contributing to many local media outlets, reportedly disappeared near Mariupol (he has been the subject of previous attacks);

• The editorial office of Gornyak newspaper in Torez was raided by about 50 unidentified people. No journalists were injured; however the office was seriously damaged and the equipment was destroyed or stolen;

• Russia Today journalist Graham Phillips tweeted that a bounty had been placed on him;

• Sergei Garmash, editor of the Ostrov news portal, was attacked and shot at near Donetsk;

• In Luhansk, 1+1 and 5 Kanal the cable and terrestrial feeds were switched off. Previously, the First Ukrainian National Channel was switched off;

• Oleg Konstantinov from Dumskaya, Petr Rakul from Information Centre and Anton Dotsenko from Timer were shot and seriously injured, Natalya Tarasovskaya from 5 Kanal and Anna Levchenko from Timer were attacked and threatened during protests in Odesa;

• In Donetsk, after seizure of the regional transmission centre, Ukrainian TV channels 1+1, K1, ICTV and 5 Kanal were replaced by Russian channels STS, TVN, ORT and RTR Planeta.

Mijatović is in Istanbul participating in an international conference.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on facebook.com/osce.rfom.