Ukrainian journalists protest against censorship
Dozens of Ukrainian journalists were wearing T-shirts reading “stop censorship” at a news conference by President Viktor Yanukovynch in Kiev on Friday. Media concerns regarding freedom of speech are growing in Ukraine since President Yanukovynch’s election.
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The president assured the media that he shared their concerns.
“No-one is putting pressure on you or will put pressure on you," he said at the press conference.
He read a letter signed by several journalists and asked the security services and interior ministry to investigate the complaints. He even accepted one of the T-shirts via a bodyguard.
Ukrainian television journalists from the private 1+1 and STB channels issued a petition last month, complaining of an increase in censorship on certain subjects.
When Yanukovych was hit on the head last month by a gigantic wreath at a memorial ceremony, officials ordered journalists not to broadcast the footage. But the presidency later admitted they had overstepped the mark.
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