Mykola Tomenko: The Verkhovna Rada should listen to the Report of the Inquiry Panel on Censorship
Mykola Tomenko believes that the Parliament should listen to the report of the Interim Inquiry Panel of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine set up to investigate Censorship in Mass Media, Restriction of Freedom of Speech in Ukraine and Interference with the Professional Activity of the Journalists within the coming plenary week.
The Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine made this statement in the yesterday´s program at TVi channel.
"The study of the mass media situation confirms the encroachment upon the freedom of speech in Ukraine," M.Tomenko stressed. He meant the beating and murders of the journalists, mass partization of municipal television and radio companies, and absolute control of one financial and political group over the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council. M.Tomenko considers the court decision on the frequencies of television channels TVi and Channel 5 as the result of such control.
"Most people in charge of information policy are either unfamiliar with the applicable legislation, or misinterpret the mission of democratic values and freedom of speech standards," the Deputy Chairman stated. He reminded of the statement made by the leaders of the First National Channel that the public channel shall advocate the authorities. "As a matter of fact, public television is funded at the expense of tax payers to promote social values, education, culture, science and sports," the Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stated. "If the authorities decide that the First National Channel, the National Radio Broadcasting Company and other public or municipal media should advocate the authorities or one party only, then these media should be funded only by the admirers of the authorities and members of this party. However, they are to present the entire society and all the aspects of political life," M.Tomenko stressed.
The Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine expects that the Parliament will listen to the report of the Interim Inquiry Panel of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine set up to investigate Censorship in Mass Media, Restriction of Freedom of Speech in Ukraine and Interference with the Professional Activity of the Journalists within the coming plenary week. (The Interim Inquiry Panel of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine set up to investigate Censorship in Mass Media, Restriction of Freedom of Speech in Ukraine and Interference with the Professional Activity of the Journalists was set up on July 1, 2010, includes the members of all parliamentary factions, and is headed by Iryna Herashchenko).