The Committee on Freedom of Speech and Information adopted the statement in regard to the situation in the informational dimension of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea
13 March 2014, 13:08
The text of the statement was approved by the Committee’s decision.
Under the document, “with the help of armed units of Kuban “Cossacks” and
Russian occupational troops, the self-appointed Crimean authority has seized
strategic objects of Ukrainian telecommunicational infrastructure, Crimean
radio and television broadcasting center and has imposed a severe informational
blockade on the peninsula.” “At present, all national Ukrainian TV channels and
the most powerful regional “Chornomorka” radio and television channel have been
switched off. Instead, Russian broadcasters are being transmitted. Thus, we are
facing aggressive intervention into the informational space of our state,”
stressed Committee members. “Occupational regime exerts unprecedented pressure on journalists. For the period of opposition there have been registered more than 70 instances of brutal violation of journalists’ rights; their activity was hindered; mass media representatives have been attacked by armed people; film crews have been brutally beaten, robbed and their equipment was damaged,” the statement reads.
The people’s deputies noted also that Crimean authority has imposed “total censorship on informational space. Thus, journalists accredited for highlighting the so called national Crimean referendum on March 16 are obliged “not to spread materials of negative nature.”
“Such actions are inadmissible in the civilized world. This is a rude violation of constitutional rights of citizens to free access to information and freedom of speech. Crimean separatists have trampled down not only Ukrainian legislation but also basic principles of international law,” was mentioned in the document.
Committee members attached attention to the fact that today “both Ukrainian and foreign journalists have to work under unprecedented circumstances of escalation of tension on the peninsula. Due to their selflessness, loyalty to their professional duty, as well as personal courage of cameramen and reporters the world can see a true informational picture from the Ukrainian peninsula.”
The committee expressed gratitude and support to all journalists “who, risking their lives and health, day and night highlight Crimean developments and strictly adhere to basic informational standards of objectiveness and balance.”
The people’s deputies have condemned “illegal actions of representatives of a
self-appointed authority of the Autonomy” and addressed the law-enforcement
bodies of Ukraine
and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea with a demand to “stop desecration of
freedom of speech and create safe working environment for local and foreign journalists.”