Ukraine's Media Movement addresses Zelenskyy over government pressure on Ukrainska Pravda

The Mediarukh (Media Movement), a community that brings together journalists from leading Ukrainian media, has urged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to take measures to stop pressure on the media by any government officials or advisers and to guarantee transparency and openness of government agencies in communication with journalists. This statement comes amid an Ukrainska Pravda report indicating systemic pressure from the authorities. Source: a statement issued by the Media Movement, released by the Institute of Mass Information

Quote: "Of particular concern is the practice of individual advisers and officials allowing themselves to interfere with the activities of journalists by imposing unofficial restrictions on officials' communication with the media, blocking access to events for certain blacklisted independent media outlets, and creating other obstacles to the functioning of independent resources.

For example, according to our colleagues at Ukrainska Pravda, presidential advisor Dmytro Lytvyn, who previously worked as a journalist and political expert, has been imposing restrictions on communication between government officials and journalists from Ukrainska Pravda in recent months." Details: The statement further emphasises that this issue is not limited to one individual but reflects a broader trend of shrinking space for independent media and increasing efforts by the authorities to control public discourse. "We are witnessing more and more active attempts by the authorities to create a single controlled narrative, which limits critical analysis and diversity of opinion in the information space of Ukraine and narrows people's right to receive socially important information.

The war cannot serve as an excuse for such actions," the statement reads.

The Media Movement has called on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to take immediate action to stop any pressure on the media from government officials or advisers, ensure transparency and openness in government agencies' communications with journalists, and guarantee the media unrestricted access to information vital to society. Furthermore, the community stated that conflicts with independent media harm not only the reputation of government agencies but also that of the country as a whole. "The media is not an enemy of the state - it is a partner in the fight for freedom and democratic values," the Media Movement stressed.

Background: On 9 October, Ukrainska Pravda reported systemic pressure from the President's Office. We are specifically pointing out the acts of restricting officials from communication with Ukrainska Pravda journalists and participation in events, as well as putting pressure on businesses to discontinue advertising with Ukrainska Pravda. Ukrainska Pravda has found that Dmytro Lytvyn, the president's adviser on communications, has been covertly imposing prohibitions for officials from communicating with journalists of Ukrainska Pravda.

For reference: The Media Movement is a community that was established on 5 February 2019. It unites journalists from prominent Ukrainian media outlets, investigative reporters, and experts from non-governmental media organisations. More than 70 participants have joined the Media Movement.

On 16 November 2021, representatives from leading media outlets urged journalists to join this unofficial professional community to combat political and commercial pressures on freedom of speech.

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