13:49 05.12.2017

NewsOne channel outraged by pressure, obstruction of journalistic activity

3 min read

The NewsOne television channel has stated the unacceptability of pressure and physical obstruction of journalistic activities, which has been recorded since December 3.

"The channel's information policy is built so as to present different points of view and cover all important events that take place in the country. Because of this principled position the channel has regularly been subjected to pressure from both the authorities and radical-minded persons," NewsOne's press service said in a statement late on Monday, December 3.

The report states that the current situation is unacceptable, "when journalists, the channel's leadership and owner are being pressured and physical obstacles to lawful journalistic activities are being created."

The channel stated that due to the actions of unidentified individuals near the channel on December 3, the chancel's work has been disrupted, "all interviews have been canceled, guests cannot get into the TV channel's studio, and journalists cannot leave on editorial tasks." In addition, the life and health of journalists are endangered.

NewsOne stressed that the Criminal Code of Ukraine envisages liability for obstruction of lawful professional activity of journalists (Article 171), but law enforcement officers on the spot do not take any measures to protect journalists and suppress illegal activities of unidentified individuals.

The statement also contains a list of other articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which, according to the television channel, can be incriminated because of the actions of unidentified individuals. In particular, the chancel named Part 1, Article 129 (threat of murder), Part 1, Article 161 (violation of the equality of citizens depending on their race, nationality, religion, etc.), Part 1, Article 195 (threat of destruction of someone else's property by arson, explosion or other generally dangerous method), and Part 1, Article 258-2 (public calls for a terrorist attack).

"We are convinced that under these conditions, the protection of the life and health of journalists, the cessation of the obstruction of journalistic activities and the restoration of the normal functioning of the channel are possible only under the close attention of society and the international community," NewsOne said.

According to earlier reports, a group of unknown individuals blocked the NewsOne channel using sacks containing sand and barbed wire on the evening of December 3, saying they disagreed with the "channel's policies." The radical activists demanded apologies from Yevhen Murayev, an independent deputy and the TV channel's owner, who had called the 2014 Maidan events "a coup."

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