26 May 2004
IFJ CONFRONTS PRIME MINISTER OVER PRESS FREEDOM RECORD
On a visit to Belgium last week, Ukraine's prime minister, Viktor Yanukovych, hadn't expected to answer questions about threats to press freedom in his country. These came after the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) confronted him on 19 May 2004 with a "catalogue of concerns," including the unsolved murder of leading journalist Gyorgy Gongadze and some 40 cases of intimidation against journalists and independent media outlets in the past year.
The Ukrainian government's failure to charge anyone for the September 2000 murder of Gongadze remains an obstacle to the development of democracy and press freedom in the country, IFJ told Yanukovych. Known for his critical reports on the Ukrainian government, Gongadze was murdered outside Kiev. No one has been charged. There are allegations that Ukraine's president, Leonid Kuchma, and senior officials may have conspired to harm Gongadze, according to IFJ.
Yanukovych was asked whether he would support a new and independent inquiry into the Gongadze case and if he was ready to make the issue of press freedom and the protection of journalists an issue in the presidential elections this October. Yanukovych is expected to run as a leading candidate.
He told IFJ that the "investigations into the case of Gyorgy Gongadze must be absolutely fair and just if there is to be any chance to review and reveal the mystery behind the crime." He also pledged his support for "all initiatives concerning the principles of press freedom and democracy" in the run-up to the presidential elections.
International criticism of Ukraine's press freedom record has been increasing. A recent report by the Council of Europe, an intergovernmental human rights watchdog, says the country's record "remains a matter of major concern." It urges the government to bring to justice those responsible for attacks on journalists.
IFJ has set up its own independent inquiry to examine why previous inquiries into Gongadze's murder have failed to deliver justice. In March 2004, the Ukrainian government refused to give IFJ and other press freedom groups a role in overseeing an international investigation into the case.
Visit these links:
- IFJ Inquiry:
http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=2090&Language=EN
- RSF:
http://www.rsf.org/country-53.php3?id_mot=123&Valider=OK
- ARTICLE 19: http://www.article19.org.ua/indexe.html
- Council of Europe Report:
www.coe.int
(Image: © Oliver Money-Kyrle, IFJ)
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