The Removal from air of three Kharkiv channels damages Ukraine’s reputation
On Wednesday the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech and Information discussed the removal from air of three Kharkiv TV channels: ATN, A/TVK and Fora . The heads of all three channels were present at the meeting, together with representatives of the National Association of Broadcasters and the National Union of Journalists. The head of the Kharkiv Regional TV and Radio Broadcasting Centre warned by telegram that he would not be present. The Mayor of Kharkiv, Gennady Kernes sent a letter in response to the invitation to attend saying that this was a business matter which he had nothing to do with.
The providers who had previously stated that they lack the technical capacity to ensure the broadcasting signal totally ignored the meeting.
The Committee heard all those present and decided to approach the President, and various ministries including those of Health and of Justice to get to the bottom of the situation. It will also ask the Anti-monopoly Committee to check whether the actions of the providers in Kharkiv are not the result of a prior agreement among themselves.
All members of the Committee were agreed that it is inadmissible to deprive TV channels of the opportunity to broadcast.
Earlier the head of the Committee Andriy Shevchenko stated that the situation with ATN damaged Ukraine’s reputation in the world. “This is not a local issue, but one putting the whole country to shame, because of this we lose international standing. I don’t think that the Party of the Regions will thank their member Gennady Kernes for this”.
Image : Telekritika