“The times of Yanukovych are returning”: Bankova was caught in pressure on the media

A scandal is brewing in the media space of Ukraine. Media representatives complain of pressure from the Office of the President and accusations of non-compliance with journalistic standards. Politicians in support of journalists talk about the return of “Yanukovych’s temniks.” TV presenter Miroslava Barchuk announced this on Facebook.

Is the OPU engaged in “information killers”?

According to the journalist, Bankovaya allegedly “ran” on the talk show “Countdown” on the UA: Pershy TV channel. She stated that they were accused of not adhering to journalistic standards, that is, the lack of a balance of opinions in the studio.

“I would not have paid attention to this information killership from anonymous telegram channels and former journalists, if they were not a symptom of a much more serious problem. people “. Candidates for broadcasts agree with the contact person of M. Podolyak in the OP. This is not news.”, – wrote Barchuk.

She noted that recently the OP has been putting forward conditions for its editorial staff and issuing ultimatums about the presence of “servants of the people” on the air.

“For example, last Monday was ultimatum # 1: On the topic of energy security, Countdown will have either two “servants” (both non-expert) or none. We decided not to accept ultimatums and invited Lyudmila Buimister, who no longer obeyed the OP’s instructions. Last Monday appeared ultimatum # 2: “servants” (two) will come on air only if the editorial board refuses the previously invited Geo Leros (non-factional). Of course, we took it as pressure. We refused to comply with the ultimatum, representatives of the mono-majority did not come. We received accusations that we did not have representatives of the mono-majority on the air and that this was “non-observance of journalistic standards.”, – the journalist summed up.

Politicians talk about the return of “Yanukovych’s temniks”

The leader of the radical party, Oleg Lyashko, believes that the authorities are very afraid of truth and transparency, therefore, in the worst traditions of Medvedchuk-Yanukovych, they are trying to restore censorship and total control over the media.

“If independent media are destroyed in Ukraine, we will not know the truth about Zelensky’s offshores and corruption and abuse of power, about the real state of affairs in the country. Therefore, I appeal to all other journalists not to be silent and inform the society about the facts of pressure and censorship. Ukrainians have the right know the truth “, – he wrote on Facebook.

People’s Deputy from the “European Solidarity” Irina Gerashchenko also warned about the return of the times of Yanukovych.

“The worst times of Yanukovych are returning in the media with censorship. We call on the media to show journalistic solidarity with the journalists of Suspilny, who were the first to honestly say the obvious -” Yanukovych’s temniks “have returned to the media. We will not allow this.”, – she said during a speech in the Verkhovna Rada.

Another People’s Deputy from “Eurosolidarity” Ivanna Klimpush-Tsintsadze confirmed the allegations about the campaigns of “servants” on the air.

“The overwhelming majority of” servants “do not go on air on their own, but only by agreement. Unfortunately, there is practically no one to call.”, – she wrote in a commentary on the post by Barchuk.

Let us remind you that the law “On Media”, initiated by the Servant of the People party, has been in the Verkhovna Rada for a long time. Among other things, a tool for monitoring content in analogue and online media is being developed.

The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine opposed this law. The journalistic community demands to reject the bill and start a dialogue on reforming the media sphere.