Ukrainian journalists reported increasing restrictions and pressure from Zelensky’s government that go beyond wartime needs — The New York Times

Ukrainian journalists have complained about increasing restrictions and pressure on the media from the Ukrainian authorities, calling such measures excessive for wartime needs.

This was reported by The New York Times.

The article notes that the growing restrictions and pressure on the media in Ukraine far exceed the country’s wartime needs. Oksana Romanyuk, director of the Institute of Mass Information—a non-profit organization monitoring press freedom—states that the situation is concerning and restrictions are being imposed while Ukraine “fights for democracy.”

Earlier, the Daily Beast, citing chief editors of Ukrainian media, reported that Ukrainian authorities have started persecuting journalists for criticizing President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The New York Times writes that before the Russian invasion in February 2022 and since Ukraine gained independence in 1991, the country had a long history of tolerance towards a pluralistic media environment, with numerous television channels affiliated with opposition and pro-government parties and independent news outlets. Maintaining this culture has become one of the challenges of the war.

The article states that Ukrainian journalists have generally accepted wartime rules prohibiting the publication of information about troop movements, the locations of missile strikes, and military losses, considering these necessary measures for national security.

“They also acknowledged a certain degree of self-censorship, refraining from critical coverage of government activities to avoid undermining morale or hindering foreign partners’ approval of aid,” writes The New York Times.

“Self-censorship in Ukraine is a wartime feature,” said Serhiy Sydorenko, editor of “European Pravda.”

He added that this situation “is not a problem” and is inevitable during the war, noting that he expects a return to normalcy once the fighting ends.

Journalists and media groups indicate that recent cases point to an increasingly restrictive environment for reporting. In January, ambassadors from the “Group of Seven” countries, which include many of Kyiv’s key military allies, issued a joint statement supporting press freedom in Ukraine.

“Media freedom is a fundamental pillar of a successful democracy,” the statement said.

Analysts say, according to The New York Times, that the government’s efforts to control the media seem aimed at limiting positive coverage of the opposition and suppressing negative coverage of the government and military.

Specifically, the publication writes that journalists at the state news agency “Ukrinform” received a list of opposition figures and local deputies deemed “undesirable” for citation in articles from their management at the end of last year.

The New York Times analyzed “Ukrinform” instructions to journalists, which included a blacklist of officials and civil society activists, including some military veterans.

One recent example of what journalists consider interference occurred in the Chernihiv region, where the elected city council clashed over municipal spending with the governor appointed by Mr. Zelensky. The leadership of the state news agency stated that quoting one council member acting as mayor on the budget would be “undesirable.”

“A desirable speaker was appointed by Zelensky, an undesirable speaker was elected,” said Yuriy Strygun, a correspondent for “Ukrinform” in Chernihiv.

There is no indication that journalists followed these instructions, and some openly stated that they ignored them, notes NYT.

“If we designate desired and undesired speakers, it will be a significant step backward for democracy,” said Strygun, adding that he quoted the official in his articles.

The publication recalls that in Odesa, journalists were instructed to quote only presidential appointees in some cases. In Lviv, journalists were told to avoid quoting elected mayor Andriy Sadovyi, a well-known politician considered a potential future presidential candidate.

A day after 57-year-old Mr. Strygun appeared on “Suspilne” to discuss reporting instructions on May 30, he received a message to resume his draft campaign, he said. He stated that he has no proof that this message was connected to his appearance on the air, but the timing seems “suspicious” to him.

Marina Syngaevska, former deputy director of “Ukrinform,” resigned this year due to political interference, citing instructions given to journalists regarding interviews with opposition members.

“Dictating to the media what to publish and who to talk to is not democratic,” she said.

Serhiy Cherevatyi, a former military spokesman appointed head of “Ukrinform,” declined to comment on the instructions circulated under his predecessor. He said he intends to manage the agency “according to the law and principles of freedom of speech.”

The NYT article states that Ukraine’s turbulent and competitive television news landscape before the war was consolidated by Mr. Zelensky’s government into a single state-controlled broadcast after the Russian invasion. The government presented this arrangement, known as “Telethon,” as necessary for broadcasting accurate news during the war.

“But it excluded opposition channels and broadcasted such optimistic reports even as the fighting dragged on that most Ukrainians now say they do not trust it,” the article states.

“Detector Media” in its recent analysis noted that from January to April this year, none of the channels producing the program, except for “Suspilne,” which no longer participates, invited members of the opposition party “European Solidarity” on air. The party is led by Petro Poroshenko, a former president of Ukraine and a political “archenemy” of Mr. Zelensky.

A report by the U.S. State Department noted that this program “provided an unprecedented level of control over prime-time television news” in Ukraine.

Svitlana Ostapa, chairwoman of the public oversight board of “Suspilne,” and Mykola Chernotytskyi, the broadcaster’s general director, said in an interview that the decision to leave “Telethon” was partly motivated by concerns about government pressure.

“Detector Media” calculated that from January to April, members of Mr. Zelensky’s “Servant of the People” party accounted for about 70% of the political guests on “Telethon,” while they hold just over half of the seats in parliament. Without “Suspilne,” this share would have risen to over 80%, the group noted.

In January, it was revealed that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) secretly filmed journalists attending a holiday party for the investigative journalism site Bihus.Info. SBU Director General Vasyl Malyuk admitted and condemned the surveillance. Zelensky dismissed the official overseeing the monitoring of domestic and foreign media organizations.

“Despite the pressure, Ukrainian journalists have obtained sensational material, including on corruption, which led to resignations and arrests,” writes NYT.

According to Sevgil Musaieva, editor-in-chief of “Ukrainska Pravda,” government efforts to suppress critical reports are one of the indicators of the influence and vitality of Ukrainian media during the war.

“The only way people can improve the situation is through journalism. That’s why some people in the government are trying so hard to control it,” she noted.