Important that no political force could get control over Public broadcaster before presidential election - Victoria Siumar

This is important that no political force could get control over the Public broadcaster before the presidential election, as Victoria Syumar, Head of the Committee on freedom of speech and information policy, told interviewed by the DW commenting on the dismissal of Zurab Alasania. She added the decision issued by the Supervisory council was “frankly unexpected”. “Actually, the most important is the issue that before the presidential election no political force could get control over the public broadcaster, which task is to be an alternative to several private TV channels which are controlled by the oligarchs and as well to provide the public with an objective and current information”, Siumar told. The Committee she is presiding is absolutely unable to interfere in the functioning of NSTU and its Supervisory council, as Syumar added. “We had drawn attention of the NSTU head and its management board there was a necessity to update the programs of the broadcaster, especially to multiply the social and politic block, programs with independent debates and which cover the pressing issues for Ukraine”, she said. She noticed that the Public TV channel had some positive changes toward independence and quality cultural content. IMI informed earlier, on the 31st of January, the Supervisory board of the National public television and radio company of Ukraine decided to dismiss Zurab Alasania from position of the Chairman of the Public broadcasting Board.