OSCE calls on Ukraine to find balanced solution to counter propaganda
She said this during a meeting with Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk on February 3, Ukrinform reports.
"Ribeiro said that the Ukrainian authorities should find a balanced and proportional solution for countering propaganda, a solution that preserves media pluralism, free flow of information and diversity of opinions in line with relevant international standards and OSCE commitments," the report reads.
The OSCE representative expressed her concern about the sanctions that suspended the activities of TV channels 112 Ukraina, ZIK and NewsOne and requested more information from the authorities in order to fully assess the decision and the related restrictions on media freedom. Tsymbaliuk agreed to follow-up on this request.
She also offered her Office’s assistance in providing expert recommendations on the issue.
The representative added that when propaganda amounts to incitement to hatred and violence, relevant measures may be applied by using existing national and international legal instruments.
Ribeiro and Tsymbaliuk also discussed the prospects for her visit to Ukraine, and agreed to engage in further discussions.
As Ukrinform reported, on February 2, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky enacted the decision of the National Security and Defense Council to impose sanctions against the NewsOne, ZIK and 112 Ukraine TV channels, as well as their owner, MP from the Opposition Platform – For Life party, Taras Kozak. The sanctions, among other things, provide for the revocation of licenses of these pro-Russian TV channels.
As of the morning of February 3, the broadcasting of NewsOne, ZIK and 112 Ukraine was blocked. However, their programs are broadcast on YouTube channels.
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