In June, the EU gave the green light to Ukraine to join the bloc. To this end, the country needs to implement extensive reforms. Media reform is one of the conditions. According to the EU, Ukraine must pass legislation to combat the “influence of self-interest” on the media.
The Ukrainian president yesterday signed a law that drastically expands the powers of the media regulator. For example, it is now possible to take news sites offline without a court ruling. Journalist organizations consider it an attempt to introduce censorship, reports ‘The Kyiv Independent’.
In September, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine said the law was “the biggest threat to freedom of expression in Ukraine’s independent history.” The union added that the passage of the law could cast “the shadow of a dictator” over Zelensky.
Authorities have denied the allegations.