Ukraine must prove that we are a state that does not give in to pressure on the media – NUJU

The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) calls on the Ukrainian authorities to show political will to protect journalists from intimidation and discredit and law enforcement agencies to find those responsible for the shameful pressure on the investigative journalist for the Nashi Hroshi publication Yurii Nikolov and the team of BIHUS.info journalist investigators.

The black PR campaign launched against our colleagues is a significant threat to freedom of speech in Ukraine and is unacceptable. In the conditions of the war, when many publications were forced to stop publishing, and their employees are left without means of livelihood and are in danger of being forced out of the profession, when media workers with a threat to their lives report from the most dangerous front-line territories, support the fighting spirit of Ukrainians and fight corruption, the journalistic community expects at least moral, psychological, and legal support from the Ukrainian authorities if they cannot provide the material.

The hatred around Yurii Nikolov and BIHUS.info, a campaign of intimidation, discrediting, illegal collection of information, and interference in private life, negatively affects the media industry of Ukraine. After all, in such conditions, every journalist – whether in the regions or in Kyiv, who undertakes to cover high-profile topics will be forced to either refuse to conduct their investigation, conduct it anonymously, or be ready for harassment and intimidation.

The NUJU is counting on the effective intervention of authorities and law enforcement agencies. We hope so, despite years of frustration when the vast majority of crimes against media workers remain unsolved and unpunished. Representatives of the highest authorities should demonstrate a clear position of support for journalists, whom they solemnly call “the fifth power” and “the guarantor of democracy in Ukraine.”

We are optimistic about the determination of the chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine’s Committee on Freedom of Speech, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, who unequivocally condemned the pressure on representatives of the Ukrainian media. We hope for an equally unequivocal reaction from the President of Ukraine and his Office, the Cabinet of Ministers, and relevant ministries.

The NUJU highly appreciates the show of support and solidarity in this situation from the European and International Federations of Journalists.

Ukraine must prove that we are a state that is built on the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, and therefore, do not give in to pressure on the media and their employees – pressure that we rightly condemn when it comes to Russia and other totalitarian and authoritarian countries.

Journalists are important! Glory to Ukraine!

Sergiy Tomilenko, President of the NUJU