OSCE Representative welcomes new legislation to foster media freedom in Ukraine

VIENNA, 7 April 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed new legislation to foster the development of public broadcasting in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko today signed a bill amending the public broadcasting law, which includes the legal status of and the basis for the creation of public broadcasting, establishes supervisory and editorial councils and introduces changes to the system of funding.

The bill was adopted by Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, on 19 March.

“This is one more assertive and important step made by the authorities to transform state media into a public broadcaster in Ukraine,” Mijatović said. “Public broadcasting should reflect the diversity of the entire population, offer quality content, and practice editorial independence free of the direct and indirect political and commercial pressures.

“I also strongly believe that true and independent public broadcasting has great potential to deter hostile propaganda by setting the standards of truth, pluralism and openness,” Mijatović said. “I urge the authorities to do their utmost in order to support implementation of the law.”

The Representative commissioned a legal review on a public broadcasting law in 2013 and provided Ukrainian authorities with recommendations. The review is available in Russian at: //www.osce.org/ru/fom/104653

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 www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.