BBG Watch Commentary
BBG Watch is re-posting a BBG press release, U.S. Media Condemn Attacks On Euromaidan Journalists. We fully agree with BBG Governors on this issue and applaud them for speaking out. We also support BBG Chairman Jeff Shell’s statement yesterday on the denial by Russia of a journalist’s visa to Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) advisor David Satter.
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BBG PRESS RELEASE
U.S. Media Condemn Attacks On Euromaidan Journalists
JANUARY 14, 2014
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Harassment, intimidation and attacks on independent journalists, including of those of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Voice of America, have spiked in the wake of mass protests in Kyiv, Ukraine.
RFE/RL reports a smear campaign targeting veteran journalist Vitaliy Portnikov, intended to discredit him and undermine the pro-democracy Euromaidan movement. Portnikov’s Kyiv apartment was picketed on January 9 by a crowd of approximately 50 people with threatening posters and Ukrainian flags who accused him of “immoral behavior.”
VOA Ukrainian Service TV reporter Ruslan Deynychenko has faced repeated attempts at intimidation following his recent coverage of the Automaidan motorcade protest aimed at President Viktor Yanukovych’s residence outside of Kyiv in late December. State Auto Inspection officials in the city where his vehicle is registered have visited Deynychenko’s parents and in-laws numerous times, asking them to sign papers about alleged traffic violations which can lead to a six-month suspension of his driver’s license.
“There is clearly an orchestrated effort to discredit independent, professional journalists, reminiscent of the most reprehensible tactics of Soviet times,” said Kevin Klose, RFE/RL President and CEO.
Portnikov is an award-winning freelance journalist and prominent public speaker who has been a regular contributor to RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service since 1991. He is a member of the public committee of Euromaidan, the organizing body of pro-EU demonstrations that erupted after Yanukovych rejected an agreement on closer ties with Europe in November.
“The threats to our journalists are among numerous acts of violence and intimidation perpetrated against independent voices over the last several weeks that Ukrainian authorities should denounce and prosecute consistent with President Yanukovych’s New Year’s pledge to move forward toward mutual understanding and national consolidation,” said David Ensor, VOA Director.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Office of the Representative for Freedom of the Media reported on December 2 that more than 40 journalists were physically assaulted and injured while covering the public protests in Kyiv. The most serious attack to date occurred on December 25, when Ukrainian journalist Tetyana Chornovol, who has investigated high-level corruption, wasseverely beaten by unknown men.
RFE/RL is a private, independent international news organization whose programs — radio, Internet, television, and mobile — reach influential audiences in 21 countries, including Russia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the republics of Central Asia, and the Caucasus. It is funded by the U.S. Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG).
VOA’s popular Ukrainian language news program ChasTime, airs week nights on Channel 5, Ukraine’s leading news and information channel. A weekly VOA TV magazine show call Window on America airs Saturday evenings on Channel 5 and on Channel One. VOA also provides news updates to other leading TV channels in Ukraine, including ICTV, and 1+1. More information about VOA, including links to all of its language service websites, can be found at www.voanews.com.