04 June 2010, 17:43
Mykola Tomenko addresses Viktor Yanukovych with a Request to explain why Inter Commercial Television Channel supervises Information Policy of the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Company
Mykola Tomenko, the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine addresses Viktor Yanukovych with a request to explain why Inter Commercial Television Channel supervises information policy of the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, forms of this coordination and their harmonization with the norms of the Laws and Constitution of Ukraine regarding the prohibition of censorship and groundless interference into the professional activity of the journalists.
As it is known, in the course of the press conference of the President that was held on Friday, Viktor Yanukovych, asked by the UT-1 channel regarding the fact that the policy of Inter Commercial Television Channel supervises Information Policy of the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Company is coordinated due to the efforts of managers, answered that "if there is such information I will not object it. I am not aware of the fact whether it is good or bad. Do you mean that here is something wrong about it?
Mykola Tomenko reminded that according to the clause 5 of the Constitution of Ukraine, censorship is prohibits in Ukraine. The Laws of Ukraine also contain the norms regarding the prohibition of censorship and groundless interference into the professional activity of the journalists. In particular clause 45-1 of the Law of Ukraine "On Information" prohibits "interference in the forms that are not envisaged by the legislation of Ukraine or the contract concluded between the founders (cofounders) of mass media companies, into the professional activity of the journalists, control for the content of the information that is spread on the part of the founders (cofounders) , state power bodies or local self-government bodies or other officials, in particular with the aim to distribute or do not distribute certain information etc.
In his appeal, M. Tomenko emphasised that "the coordination" of the informational policy of NTCU and "Inter" TV channel "due to the efforts of their managers" is envisaged neither by the Ukrainian legislation nor by the statute of the National Television Company of Ukraine or editorial statute of "Inter" TV channel. Hence according to the norms of the Laws of Ukraine "On Information" and "On Television and Radio Broadcasting", such "coordination" is interference into the professional activity of the journalists of these channels and it is punish by the law.
The Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine emphasised that the President´s explanation of the flourishing political censorship in Ukraine is of peculiar importance now, on the eve of the professional holiday of mass media specialists Journalist´s Day.