Journos target Ukrainian president
Monday 03 September 2012
Printable
EmailA group of leading Ukrainian journalists interrupted President Viktor Yanukovych's speech at a newspaper conference today to protest against government censorship.
About a dozen reporters rose from their seats and held up posters reading "Stop Censorship" and "Media Oligarchs Serve the Authorities," upsetting Mr Yanukovych's opening statement at the annual World Newspaper Congress.
State security guards surrounded the protesters, ripping posters out of their hands.
In his speech, Mr Yanukovych vowed to uphold democratic principles and media freedoms.
"The main task of the government in the media sphere ... is to create conditions when free press can develop freely and be independent of any kind of control," he said.
But investigative reporter Mustafa Nayem called Mr Yanukovych's words cynical lies.
He said: "It is not a secret to anyone that the media atmosphere under President Yanukovych has worsened drastically."
If you appreciated this article then please consider donating to the Morning Star's Fighting Fund to ensure we can keep developing your paper.
Editorial
Spending the only way out
George Osborne's advice from the International Monetary Fund is like the curate's egg - good in parts.
Features
More folly in the Middle East
The government wants to ramp up Western involvement in the Syrian conflict but the cost will be more violence and instability in the region
Where there's resistance, there's hope
PCS general secretary urges the trade union movement to step up the fight against the Tory cuts