12:00 12.01.2018

National Council for Broadcasting favors fines or criminal liability for Ukrainian artists touring in Russia

3 min read
National Council for Broadcasting favors fines or criminal liability for Ukrainian artists touring in Russia

The National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine initiates amendments to the legislation so that penalties or criminal liability may be imposed on Ukrainian artists performing in Russia.

As they say in the statement of the regulator, circulated on Thursday, the National Council receives appeals concerning performances of Ukrainian artists who are actively touring in the Russian Federation.

"In this situation, the National Council does not have any levers of influence on the broadcasting organizations, because the law does not say anything at all about this. In this case any regulator's action on the restriction will be appealed in court, and the chances of defending a position that can be understood from the ethical point of view standards, but there are no legal grounds, they are equal to zero. This situation can be solved only in the legislative field," the regulator explains.

The National Council believes that "legislators [Verkhovna Rada] could consider and apply world practice on the impact on domestic performers" who carry out concert activities in a country recognized as an aggressor. "These can be penalties or criminal liability for them, and television and radio organizations could be required to limit the participation of such artists or cultural figures on air, possibly for a certain period. In this case, the national regulator will have real levers of influence on broadcasters," the National Council on television and radio broadcasting said.

"This could involve penalties or criminal liability for them. Television and radio organizations could be required to limit the appearance of such artists or cultural figures, possibly for a certain period. This way, the national regulator would get real leverage on broadcasters," the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting said.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister, Viacheslav Kyrylenko, also discussed Ukrainian artists' performance in Russia.

"As to 'our' guest artists in Russia. Indeed, the issue is mainly ethical, it cannot be banned. But if you go to Russia on a guest tour, 1) you report it, 2) you get put on a special register, 3) the words 'this artist does guest tours in an aggressor country' appear on television during performances or videos, 4) you pay extra military fees in Ukraine," he wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

"This could involve penalties or criminal liability for them. Television and radio organizations could be required to limit the appearance of such artists or cultural figures, possibly for a certain period. This way, the national regulator would get real leverage on broadcasters," the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting said.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister, Viacheslav Kyrylenko, also discussed Ukrainian artists' performance in Russia.

"As to 'our' guest artists in Russia. Indeed, the issue is mainly ethical, it cannot be banned. But if you go to Russia on a guest tour, 1) you report it, 2) you get put on a special register, 3) the words 'this artist does guest tours in an aggressor country' appear on television during performances or videos, 4) you pay extra military fees in Ukraine," he wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

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