International Committee for the Protection of the free press and journalists’ rights is concerned the fact Ukrainian court verdict against journalist Olga Snitsarchuk opposition TV station, which in its reportage assessed official actions of the deputy of the Ukrainian parliament in power from the Party of Regions Yury Bout.
International Committee for the Protection of the free press and journalists’ rights similar to the Ukrainian authorities of the commitments they assumed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Obligations of Support in Ukraine, freedom of opinion and non-prosecution of anyone for evaluative comments.
International Committee for the Protection of the free press and journalists’ rights and bring to the attention of the Ukrainian authorities the fact that in the civilized world there is a clearly established practice under which the activities of journalists against politicians can be done in a broader framework than for individuals not involved in the functioning of institutions power.
International Committee for the Protection of the free press and journalists’ rights offer to the Ukrainian authorities to give a proper assessment of the actions of those members of the judiciary in Ukraine, who have endured this disgraceful decision against an independent journalist in opposition TV station, as well as take measures to repeal the verdict cast a shadow over the state of press freedom in this country.
International Committee for the Protection of the free press and journalists’ rights also recommends that the Party of Regions of Ukraine to consider the advisability of staying within its ranks and within the precincts of Parliament George Booth, taking into account that some opinions in the Ukrainian society may emerge about the psychological stability of the members of the party after reading text of the reasoning of the claim of a deputy to the said journalist.
The original statement in Russian is available at pressguard.arbat.name.