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Parliament Uninterested in Press Freedom

18 May, 00:00

By Iryna HAVRYLOVA, The Day On May 12 the traditional parliamentary hearings on the status and prospects of information policy in Ukraine were held in Verkhovna Rada. However, this status was most eloquently shown by switched-off microphones and talk of a complete "disrespect for officials" when the first persons sent their second deputies instead. Notably, the problem of freedom of expression did not arouse any special interest among the People's Deputies either: the debates were conducted in a half-empty hall, and the Speaker virtually had to force the Solons to their seats.

This time it went by without stormy reactions to the broadcast blackout: Ivan Chyzh proposed that his personal "profound indignation" be taken as the reaction of the entire hall. "The attempt by the Left to usurp leadership on this issue through their committees has largely cut off discussion by healthy sound parliamentary forces," says Deputy Ihor Ostash. However, Ivan Chyzh informed The Day that the public part of the hearing is far not the main event and follows the principle of "speak not, but listen to others." In fact, the lawmakers hosted the directors of the regional opposition mass media who tried to relate their pressing problems to Verkhovna Rada and the government.

Thus far Parliament has displayed no wish (nor ability) to adopt effective legislative mechanisms to protect the freedom of expression. For a petition to the President and the Cabinet, as well as a parliamentary resolution are not binding. However, the Committee for the Freedom of Expression intends to show international organizations the whole truth about the situation concerning the Ukrainian information theater.

Newspaper output №:

№18, (1999)

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Day After Day