Discussion about new Ukrainian media law
A new media law was approved by a large majority in the Ukrainian parliament last week. The European Union had recommended that as an EU candidate Ukraine reform its media legislation. Among other things, the draft seeks to restrict the influence of oligarchs on Ukrainian media. Some commentators fear that the new law gives authorities too much power, also vis-à-vis editorial teams.
A milestone on the path to Brussels
Dmitro Krivosheyev, Olga Limar and Denis Davidenko of Reanimation Package of Reforms, an association of state and non-state organisations that aims to promote reforms in various spheres of public life in Ukraine, see the adoption of the new media law as a step towards the EU. They write in Ukrainska Pravda:
“Limiting the influence of oligarchs is in a way also related to the next recommendation of the European Commission - the adoption of a media law that brings Ukrainian legislation in line with the EU's Audiovisual Media Services Directive. ... In particular, the new law strengthens the powers of the media regulator - the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting.”
Mainly bans and restrictions
The media law curtails the freedom of the press, writes Tetyana Kotyushinska, head of the National Association of Ukrainian Media, on gordonua.com:
“Half of the draft law makes amendments and additions that regulate journalistic work. What does this half consist of? Bans and restrictions. European journalists' unions are currently discussing a Media Freedom Act which would restrict media ownership and give journalists' collectives more rights and guarantees of editorial independence. Ukraine needs to honestly and openly return to the European agenda and say goodbye to Asian dreams of censorship.”
All the prerequisites for censorship
Sergiy Tomilenko, head of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, shares on Facebook a call to postpone the consideration of the draft law until Ukraine wins:
“The analysis of the draft on the media reveals that it allows for the introduction of censorship instruments and a significant restriction of freedom of speech in Ukraine. A number of innovations in the bill will significantly expand the powers of the state authority, the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting, which the drafters of the bill consider an independent regulatory body. ... The Council will among other things have the power to issue binding instructions to the editorial staff of all media, to impose fines on all media and to temporarily ban online media for 14 days without a court decision.”