Press rights watchdog urges Zelensky to ‘halt media intimidation’

The Committee to Protect Journalists has sent a letter highlighting Kiev’s restrictions and violations amid the Ukraine conflict.

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky should ensure that journalists and media outlets operate freely in the country and “without fear of reprisal,” a press freedom NGO has demanded. In a letter to the Ukrainian leader on Thursday, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) asked him to “halt media intimidation.”

In its letter, the CPJ highlighted a series of incidents over the past year that illustrate government interference and suppression of media during the escalation of the conflict with Russia.

According to the committee, this year has been “marked by several incidents of pressure, intimidation, and surveillance, as well as lack of accountability.”

One cited case is related to one local news outlet, Ukrainska Pravda, which has reported “ongoing and systematic pressure” from Zelensky’s office. Allegations published in early October on the outlet’s site include directives to government officials to avoid communication with the outlet and pressure on businesses to withdraw advertising. Kiev has denied these claims.

The CPJ also highlighted a case involving Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Nikolov, who was intimidated in January by individuals dressed in military fatigues who entered his home.

Investigations into alleged surveillance reported in January involving the investigative outlet Bihus.info have so far had no updates. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has initiated investigations into both cases, but no conclusive results or official statements have been released yet.

The NGO is also concerned about a bill being debated in the Verkhovna Rada that may increase criminal penalties for publishing information from public databases during martial law, which was extended until February 2025, amending the relevant legislation for the 13th time since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in February 2022.

The CPJ is urging Zelensky to take immediate steps to protect press freedom and to ensure accountability for those who intimidate journalists.

Zelensky announced in December 2023 that no polls would take place while martial law, imposed during the recent fighting with Russia, remains in force. Although his term officially expired in May, Zelensky has remained in power.

In February 2022 Ukraine established a single national television channel referred to as the United News platform. The broadcasts mainly feature politicians and officials loyal to Zelensky, while the opposition is barred from the air.