During the meeting on December 25, Chairman of the Committee Mykola Tomenko expressed concern about the status of freedom of speech in Ukraine connected with the latest events, particularly – beating the journalist and public activist Tetiana Chornovol. He stressed that the Committee members pay attention to each case of obstruction of professional journalists’ activity, as well as to cases of violence against them.
Participants of the meeting also emphasized the necessity of improving wording of the text of article 171 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Participants of the meeting discussed provision by the Public council members of expert and analytical assistance to the Committee, carrying out public expertise of the bills and other normative legal acts in the sphere of informational relations, as well as analysis of state authorities’ activity connected with adherence to the right to freedom of expression and information.
M.Tomenko expressed hope for successful suppression of violating constitutional rights and freedoms in the informational sphere under condition of constant public control and insurance of bilateral cooperation between civil society and the state.
Committee’s activity connected with ensuring the appropriate level of funding state mass media by a respective costing of the State Budget for 2014 was discussed. The participants of the meeting also talked about social protection of journalists, necessity of suppressing attempts of administrative curbs on free speech in the Internet and of obstructing activity of Internet-organizations, participation of the Public council and the Committee in events on the occasion of the T.H.Shevchenko 200th anniversary, etc.