The public Council at the National Council of Ukraine concerning TV and broadcasting in General supported the draft law “On media”

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The Ukrainian authorities should reject a draft law “On media”, attempts to introduce stricter regulation of online media do not meet the European obligations of Ukraine, this was stated by the participants of the press conference, which was held in the National Union of journalists of Ukraine on 9 July.

“Tighten the screws on the market of online media came up with Ukrainian officials and deputies. Europe is not require. Yesterday during an online discussion of the draft law the expert of the Council of Europe confirmed that strict regulation of online media along with audio-visual media is unjustified,” – said the journalist Sergey Lyamets.

In a civilized country cannot limit the free exchange of information or access to certain online platforms, said the participants of the press conference.

“The national Council on television and radio should remain the regulator for linear audiovisual media, the law should be taken regulation of print and online media,” – said in the message.

The participants of the event urged journalists to continue joint actions to convey to the President of Ukraine position to prevent the adoption of the bill, which infringes freedom of speech.

Bill No. 2693 authorship of people’s deputies from “Servants of the people” was registered in the Verkhovna Rada at the end of December 2019. The document should regulate the activities of television, radio, press, online media, streaming services and platforms common access to information. The authors of the bill, in particular, suggested that the national Council on television and radio broadcasting function of supervision and control over the entire media sphere.

The bill was harshly criticized by journalists and news organisations. May 19, 2020 Happy sent it back for first reading again.

More than 200 journalists, media managers and experts have signed an open letter to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, the leadership of the Verkhovna Rada, MPs and the European partners of Ukraine in which urged not to support the draft law “On media”.

July 1 the Verkhovna Rada Committee on issues of human and information policy recommended the Parliament to adopt the bill.

On 3 July the EU delegation to Ukraine urged to continue consultations on the draft law “On media”.

7 Jul public Council of the National Council of Ukraine on television and broadcasting generally supported the draft law “On media”.