Luhansk editors receive threats from both separatists and Ukrainian military

Representatives of media outlets of Luhansk oblast experience both from separatists and Ukrainian military. This was reported by the National Association of Journalists of Ukraine.

According to an editors-in-chief of one of Luhansk media outlets, on June 10 the leadership of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic brought together all editors-in-chief of Luhansk media outlets for a «conversation». They were told they had to publish «correct» materials about achievements of the leadership of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, otherwise both editors and other disobedient journalists would be taken to the Security Service basements for the ‘explanation of what to do’.

The separatists told the journalists not to use the words «separatist », «extremists», and so on, and threatened to close down their media outlets, like it happened with the TV channel «IRTA».

Recently, an editor-in-chief of one of rayon newspapers was summoned to the HQ of the Ukrainian Army and received a warning that they were not allowed to write about actions of the military. The military were rude, threatening and pressuring him.