Mykola Tomenko: Legal Judgment on Channel 5 and TVі will determine the Actual State of Freedom of Speech in Ukraine
Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, reminded that today the High Administrative Court of Ukraine would resume proceedings in a case on terminating the broadcasting licenses of Channel 5 and TVi. M.Tomenko believes, "The development of events with an attempt to force the unbiased and objective channels out of the television service will determine the actual state of the freedom of speech in Ukraine."
The Deputy Chairman reminded that representatives of the international organizations had already raised the question concerning these channels. "The situation regarding these media is absolutely clear: both the authorities and the media tycoons in power would like to strengthen their influence and force the neutral channels out of media," he stressed. M.Tomenko supposes that the legal judgment will show whether the authorities will continue to ‘mop up´ the media space, and characterize the state of the freedom of speech in Ukraine.