“Ukrayinska Pravda” claims pressure from the President’s Office
9 October 2024 16:57
The editorial office of Ukrayinska Pravda stated, however, that the Office of the President has been exerting long-term and systematic pressure on the publication and its individual journalists. This is stated in a statement released by the UP on 8 October, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
“We would like to draw the attention of colleagues, partners and international organisations to the long-term and systematic pressure that the Office of the President exerts on the editorial board and individual journalists of Ukrayinska Pravda,” the statement reads.
The publication believes that the Office of the President is involved in such actions against the editorial office:
- blocking speakers from the government from communicating with Ukrayinska Pravda journalists and participating in events;
- pressure on businesses to stop advertising cooperation with UP;
- openly emotional communication between President Zelensky and UP journalist Roman Kravets, which we all witnessed live (we are talking about the press conference of the President of Ukraine on 27 August – ed.)
“These and other non-public signals indicate attempts to influence our editorial policy. It is especially outrageous to realise this at a time of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, when our joint struggle for both survival and democratic values is essential,” the statement reads.
The editorial board emphasises that every attempt by specific officials from the Presidential Office to influence the newspaper’s journalists will be publicly disclosed and will have consequences at the international level.
“We call on everyone who values freedom of speech and independence of Ukrainian journalism to join us and stand up for these values,” the journalists concluded.
The President’s Office has not yet commented on Ukrayinska Pravda’s statement.
