CPJ urges Ukraine president to halt media intimidation, allow journalists to work freely

The Committee to Protect Journalists, in a letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on December 19, 2024, asked him to ensure that journalists and media outlets can work freely in Ukraine and that no one responsible for intimidating journalists goes unpunished, following a year marked by several incidents of pressure, intimidation, and surveillance, as well as lack of accountability. Volodymyr Zelenskyy President of Ukraine

Office of the President of Ukraine

Presidential Administration Building Bankova Street, 11 Kyiv, Ukraine

Dear President Zelenskyy, I am writing from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent non-governmental organization advocating for press freedom worldwide, to request your assistance in ensuring that journalists and media outlets in Ukraine can work freely and without fear of reprisal, and that no one responsible for intimidating journalists goes unpunished. CPJ acknowledges the immense challenges facing your government in the midst of war and values Ukraine's commitment to democratic standards and the rule of law.

We recognize the need in exceptional circumstances for some limitations on journalistic access to information or areas for security reasons, and note that in the third year after Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine's media landscape remains vibrant and dynamic. However, we are increasingly concerned by signals pointing to an unwarranted attempt by the Ukrainian government to control the media and stifle investigative journalism. Over the last year, our research and detailed exchanges with local journalists show a pattern of unwarranted restrictions and other interventions that curtail the operations of a free press and ultimately do a disservice to the democracy that you are aiming to defend.

In October, independent news outlet Ukrainska Pravda (UP) stated that it was experiencing "ongoing and systematic pressure" from your office. UP's program director, Andrii Bystrov, told CPJ that government officials regularly receive directives from your office not to talk to the outlet on certain matters. On October 10, Ukrainska Pravda specified that Dmytro Lytvyn, the recently appointed communications adviser for your office, banned security forces and officials from communicating with the outlet's journalists.

Lytvyn denied the allegations on October 15. Ukrainska Pravda also alleged that your office is pressuring private companies to pull advertising from the outlet, and Bystrov told us that some advertisers had withdrawn following calls from your office. In addition to the Ukrainska Pravda incident, CPJ has recorded several other concerning incidents.

These include:

Pressure, intimidation and surveillance: Several Ukrainian investigative journalists have been subjected to surveillance and intimidation by officials in connection with their work. In addition, journalists seeking press accreditation previously told CPJ in 2023 that they had been questioned by the Security Service of Ukraine and pressured to take certain approaches in their reporting.
Lack of accountability: No one has been held accountable for intimidating investigative journalist Yuriy Nikolov in January. Similarly, no results have been communicated in the investigations related to the surveillance reported in January of investigative outlet Bihus.info or the attempt in April to serve investigative journalist Yevhen Shulhat with a military summons in retaliation for his work.

In addition, CPJ is concerned about a bill currently being debated in the Verkhovna Rada that could increase criminal penalties for publishing information from public databases during martial law, thereby threatening the work of investigative journalists.

In its June 2022 opinion on Ukraine's European Union membership application, the European Commission stated that "media freedom has also improved significantly in recent years, especially thanks to online media." Directly pressuring independent media or indirectly letting those who intimidate them operate with impunity would represent a significant step backwards in the realization of Ukraine's European aspirations. As someone committed to defending Ukraine's international standing, who has recognized that "any pressure on journalists is unacceptable," we request that you take immediate steps to end Ukrainian government officials' surveillance, harassment, or intimidation of journalists, and ensure that anyone who has acted to weaken freedom of the press in Ukraine is held to account. We thank you for your consideration.

Jodie Ginsberg, CEO, Committee to Protect Journalists Source

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