SBU initiates extraordinary NSDC meeting due to TV link-up

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) initiates an urgent extraordinary meeting of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), aiming to impose some sanctions to legal entities which are broadcasting under the logos "112 Ukraine" and NewsOne TV channels, as the SBU website reported. "I find it absolutely unacceptable that NewsOne TV channel set up the TV link-up with "with the main propagandist TV channel of the aggressor country, which is subjected to sanctions," - head of the SBU Ivan Bakanov said. "The SBU sent a letter to the directors of the media holding" News "(TV channels : 112 Ukraine, NewsOne and ZIK) warning of the responsibility for having held joint events together with the channel "Russia" and other broadcasters of the aggressor state that are under the sanctions of the NSDCU," Bakanov said. At the same time, it is suggested to adopt the decision on imposing of personal specific economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) against the legal entities broadcasting under the logos "112 Ukraine" and NewsOne at the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council, in accordance with the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine dated October 4, 2018, No. 2589-VIII (initiated by the Security Service of Ukraine in October 2018) and to put them into effect by a relevant decree to be signed by the President of Ukraine. Also, the heads of the SBU appealed to the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting regarding the possibility of warning of the above-mentioned entities of news activity about the inadmissibility of violation of licensing requirements and the current legislation (cooperation with legal entities of the Russian Federation, which are in the sanction list of the National Security and Defense Council). This could translate into imposing fines on them. Besides that, the SBU proposed to:

• appeal to the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada with a request to consider the situation regarding the functioning of these TV channels before the Antimonopoly Committee at the next parliamentary session. The antimonopoly committee has to verify whether the acquisition of NewsOne, 112 Ukraine and ZIK television channels by Taras Kozak has been a violation of the antimonopoly legislation;
• to propose to the Verkhovna Rada to enshrine in the law the authority of the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting to cancel the license for broadcasting or license of the service provider without resorting to the court, if the violation has not been suppressed after "warning notice" and the "fine", or in case of failure to comply with the order of the state regulator;
• to initiate before the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine using of measures to de-monopolize the media landscape by the media holding "News".

On July 7, Russian presenter Dmitry Kiselev announced in the program “News of the week”that a joint teleconference “Need to talk” with the Ukrainian TV channel NewsOne belonging to the ally of Viktor Medvedchuk, Taras Kozak, was to be held on July 12. NewsOne has announced that it is launching a joint project with the Russian television channel “Russia 24” “Need to talk”, since they thought one should initiate discussion between “the peoples of the two countries, and not the politicians.” On October 5, 2018, the MP from the “Opposition Bloc” Taras Kozak got the corporate rights of the NewsOne TV channel. On December 14, 2018, the “112 Ukraine” TV channel informed that Taras Kozak, a MP from the opposition party “Opposition bloc”, became the new owner of the channel. On June 14, it became known that ZIK TV channel was bought by an ally of Viktor Medvedchuk, Taras Kozak, who also owns NewsOne TV channels and 112 Ukraine. Based on his media assets, he is going to create a new media holding “News”. Immediately after the announcement of the sale of ZIK TV channel, a number of top managers and journalists resigned.