NTA TV channel fined for inciting national hatred

The National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting fined the Lviv TV channel NTA (PE NTA - Independent Television Agency) UAH 130,845 (around $4 898) for statements in the air program which incited to ethnic hatred. This decision was made by the National Council on September 16, according to the regulator's website.

The sanction was applied to the broadcaster based on the results of an unscheduled remote inspection of the company's air programs on May 20, 21 and 23 this year.

It is question of a live program "This is the Great Lviv" of May 20, and its rebroadcasting on May 21 and 23. In-studio guest was a public and political figure Oleh Barna, whose disparaging words became subject of watchdog’s scrutity.

The National Council found that these statements were not motivated by the topic of the program and had signs of xenophobia and hate speech. His vocabulary had a highly negative connotation and was aimed at opposing the people of different ethnics ones against others, based on uncertain criteria, according to the National Council.

Natalia Struk, the company's director and talk show host, noted at the meeting in the National Council that the hosts reacted to the guest's remarks and urged guests and experts to be tolerant. However, according to the National Council, the employees of the television and radio organization failed to make changes to the program and submit an amended or refuted version of it during the repeated broadcasts. The program was broadcast on May 21 and 23 without changes and editorial changes. The representative of the TV and radio company admitted this mistake.

In particular, the National Council found that the statements made in the program "Thisis the Great Lviv " violated the requirements of the fourth paragraph of the second part of Article 6, paragraph "a" of the first part of Article 59 of the Law of Ukraine "On Television and Radio Broadcasting" which banned any incitement to national, racial or religious hatred and animosity. In addition, there is a violation of part one of Article 28 of the Law of Ukraine “On Information”, according to which information cannot be used to call for incitement to interethnic, racial, religious hatred, etc.

The National Council obliged the licensee to bring its activities in line with the requirements of applicable law from the date of entry into force of the decision.