Ukrainian journalists protest against censorship

Dozens of Ukrainian journalists were wearing T-shirts reading “stop censorship” at a news conference by President Viktor Yanukovynch in Kiev on Friday. Media concerns regarding freedom of speech are growing in Ukraine since President Yanukovynch’s election.  

Reuters

The president assured the media that he shared their concerns.

“No-one is putting pressure on you or will put pressure on you," he said at the press conference.

He read a letter signed by several journalists and asked the security services and interior ministry to investigate the complaints. He even accepted one of the T-shirts via a bodyguard.

Ukrainian television journalists from the private 1+1 and STB channels issued a petition last month, complaining of an increase in censorship on certain subjects.

When Yanukovych was hit on the head last month by a gigantic wreath at a memorial ceremony, officials ordered journalists not to broadcast the footage. But the presidency later admitted they had overstepped the mark.