OSCE Media Representative concerned over harassment of media outlets in Ukraine

VIENNA, 30 November 2004 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, expressed concern over several recent cases of media harassment in Ukraine that have been reported to his Office.

"At this time of post-election turmoil in Ukraine, I am impressed by recent changes in the general openness and objectivity being demonstrated by Ukrainian media in covering the events. This is something I did not see when I visited Ukraine on my first assessment visit in April 2004," said Haraszti.

"However, I am concerned that in several regions serious media violations are being reported."

He said Channel 5 broadcasts have been blocked in the Uzhgorod, Donetsk, Lugansk and Kharkiv regions. Approximately 15-20 percent of Channel 5 viewers can no longer watch its programmes.

TV Era reported that the Lugansk and Donetsk regional state authorities are stopping its broadcasts. There are cases of pressure on cable operators to exclude these channels from their cable packages.

The Office has also been informed that on Sunday, 28 November, the print-run of the newspaper insert "Tviy Vybir," totalling 35,000 copies, was confiscated by police on arrival in Lugansk.

There are reports from Donetsk that correspondents for ARD, Reuters, Ukrinform, and the local newspaper Salon Dona i Basa were assaulted when trying to report from a local political rally.

During another rally in Lugansk, journalists of the news agency Ukrainsky Novyny and the newspaper Luganchane were beaten and their equipment was destroyed.

"It is imperative that the local authorities in these regions cease harassment of the media, give it due protection and allow their citizens to have access to all voices, including those that might not be in line with the views of the majority of the population in the region. Safeguarding good working conditions for journalists is a major OSCE commitment," said Haraszti.