The European Union is assessing the consequences of the decision of the Council of National Security and Defense of Ukraine to impose sanctions on three TV channels - "112 Ukraine", NewsOne and ZIK.
He writes about it Interfax-Ukraine.
"We know that on February 2, 2021, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine decided to impose sanctions against Taras Kozak, the owner of three TV channels (112, NewsOne and ZIK TV). We are assessing the consequences of this decision. According to the Ukrainian authorities, this decision was made on the basis of anti-terrorist legislation and an investigation that established that Kozak received funds from non-government-controlled territories controlled by separatists," commented the position of the EU representative of the Foreign Diplomatic Service Peter Stano.
At the same time, he emphasized that according to the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, the European Union attaches great importance to the independence and freedom of the mass media.
"The Ukrainian media landscape has been and continues to be subjected to constant pro-Russian disinformation campaigns. Although Ukraine's efforts to protect its territorial integrity and national security, as well as to protect against information manipulation, are legitimate, in particular, given the scale of disinformation campaigns affecting Ukraine, including from abroad, this should not come at the expense of media freedom and should be implemented with full respect for fundamental rights and freedoms and in accordance with international standards," Stano noted.
In addition, a representative of European diplomacy expressed his belief that "any measures taken should be proportionate to the goal."
"We are closely following this case and will contact the Ukrainian authorities to obtain additional information. The EU will continue to interact with the Ukrainian authorities and share its experience in this regard," he added.
In turn, the USA has already supported the imposed sanctions.
"The United States supports the efforts to counteract the malicious influence of Russia, applied yesterday by Ukraine in defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity and in accordance with Ukrainian legislation. We all must work together to prevent disinformation from being used as a weapon in the information war against sovereign states," the US Embassy in Ukraine said in a statement.
