16 July 2003

LAW THREATENS PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS' SOURCES, SAYS IFJ


Calling it "one of the greatest threats on press freedom in the post-Soviet era," the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the Ukrainian Parliament for adopting legislation outlawing journalists' rights to protect their sources. Passed on 9 July, the law gives authorities powers to detain journalists suspected of revealing State secrets.

"This law, which changes certain aspects of existing Ukrainian law, will give excessive levels of power to the Ukrainian secret service, whereby they can investigate the 'illegal' use of special technical means (recording telephone conversations, use of information technologies, etc.) to obtain information from anonymous sources," says IFJ.

The Ukrainian Parliament released a statement on the law, saying it "gives special rights to staff of the Ukrainian secret service to arrest journalists who have been investigating issues related to state secrets and who intend to publish this information.

Subsequently, the secret service is authorized to demand a written statement from the journalist, explaining the reasons behind this violation of state secrets and confidential information. The secret service is also permitted to carry out a body search and a search of their personal belongings.

"The law also proposes to fine journalists who have been arrested for seeking, obtaining, fixing, using and/or imparting information by technical means. The fine would be in the range of 50 to 300 times the monthly salary for the journalist in question and 200 to 500 times the monthly salary for the official source."

The IFJ says it will protest the new law at the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the European Union. The OSCE Representative on Media Freedom, Freimut Duve, expressed support for IFJ's position, saying the new law will have a "chilling effect on the work of journalists, especially those investigating corruption."


Visit the IFEX website for more information:

http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/1092/

Also visit:


- IFJ: http://www.ifj.org

- OSCE Media Representative: http://www.osce.org/news/generate.php3?news_id=3421



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Also from the Communiqué, 16 July 2003

GUATEMALA: IFEX MEMBERS CALL ATTENTION TO ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS 15 July 2003 IRAN: PHOTOJOURNALIST DIES IN IRANIAN CUSTODY 16 July 2003 INDONESIA: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH WARNS OF RETURN TO AUTHORITARIANISM 16 July 2003 KAZAKHSTAN: IPI REPORT SAYS DRAFT MEDIA LAW DEEPLY FLAWED 16 July 2003 HONG KONG (CHINA): GOVERNMENT BOWS TO PRESSURE OVER NATIONAL SECURITY LAW 16 July 2003 PANAMA: OAS RAPPORTEUR ISSUES REPORT ON PANAMA 16 July 2003 INTERNATIONAL: WEBSITE FOR YOUNG REPORTERS SEEKS SUBMISSIONS 16 July 2003 INTERNATIONAL: DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR ONLINE JOURNALISM AWARDS 16 July 2003

Ukraine

Editor reported missing in Lvov region 29 March 2012 Court decision threatens future of country's largest newspaper 10 February 2012 Former president must be prosecuted in Gongadze murder, says CPJ 15 December 2011 Newspaper photographer murdered in Kiev 1 December 2011 Opposition TV channel disappears from the airwaves 26 October 2011 See all alerts: Ukraine


Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia

AZERBAIJAN: Eurovision no party for peaceful protesters 25 May 2012 UZBEKISTAN: Rights defender threatened, attacked 25 May 2012 AZERBAIJAN: Authorities violently disperse peaceful rallies 22 May 2012 AZERBAIJAN: Opposition activist released from prison 17 May 2012 RUSSIA: Putin's new mandate starts inauspiciously for media 11 May 2012


 
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