Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described on Wednesday the Ukrainian authorities' plans to impose sanctions on several Ukrainian TV channels as "information banditry."
KOKTEBEL (Russia) (Pakistan Point news / Sputnik - 10th October, 2018) Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described on Wednesday the Ukrainian authorities' plans to impose sanctions on several Ukrainian tv channels as "information banditry."
Last week, the Ukrainian parliament passed a resolution proposing that the National Security Council should introduce sanctions against seven legal entities that own and control the Ukrainian television channels 112.Ukraina and NewsOne. Ukrainian lawmakers are accusing the two broadcasters of disseminating false information that allegedly defames the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and contains elements of military propaganda against Ukraine and its citizens.
"What is being proposed is a real war in its own information space. This is a fight against dissent, this is an attack on independent media. In the public space, Kiev politicians are reiterating their adherence to the principles of Western democracy and freedom of speech, while, in fact, they are engaged in real informational banditry, shutting down unwanted media, and under imaginary pretexts opening proceedings against journalists based on false charges," Zakharova said.
The spokeswoman said that Ukraine was violating its commitments to protect human rights and the freedom of expression.
Zakharova also criticized the law that made Ukrainian the only official language in schools.
"This legislative initiative ... is a continuation of Kiev's policy to completely Ukrainize society and will have an impact on the spheres of education, culture, judicial procedures, healthcare, media and even public services," the spokeswoman said.
Under the new Ukrainian law, since September 1, children from national minority groups have only been able to study in their native language at the Primary school level, while secondary and post-secondary education is exclusively in Ukrainian. The full switch to Ukrainian-language education is set for September 1, 2020.
