Сommittee on Freedom of Speech to address some issues based on hearings on journalists' safety
On February 5, the Committee on Freedom of Speech is to consider the issue of establishing of a working group which has to prepare for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada a number of issues identified at the parliamentary hearings: "Security of activity of journalists in Ukraine: conditions, issues and its solutions", as the Committee reported on its official Facebook page.
Among other issues that the committee is to consider are:
- Draft Law on Media (Reg. No.2693 of 27.12.2019, submitted by MPs O. Tkachenko, M. Poturayev, E. Kravchuk and others).
- Draft Law on Media in Ukraine (Reg. No. 2693-1 of 01/15/2020, submitted by MPs M. Knyazhitsky, V. Viatrovych, S. Fedyna, V. Syumar and others).
- Institution of criminal proceedings against the journalist V. Boyko by the Security Service of Ukraine.
The meeting is scheduled to be held at 2.30 pm.
As IMI reported, on January 14, the Verkhovna Rada upheld Resolution No. 2541 “On Recommendations of Parliamentary Hearings” on “Security of Journalists in Ukraine: conditions, issues and solutions”.
On January 17, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy recommended that the Parliament adopt the bill No. 2693 “On Media” as a basis.
The new legislative act should become a comprehensive document that will replace several media laws: on television and radio broadcasting, printed press in Ukraine, news agencies, National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting, state support for mass media and social protection of journalists, about the procedure for coverage of activities of state and local self-government bodies in Ukraine by mass media.
The Center for Democracy and Rule of Law called on the parliamentary profile committee and parliament to hold efficacious discussion and to consider amendments to the media bill and to pass a quality law in the first half of 2020. The Ukrainian Internet Association (UIA) has suggested to the parliamentary committees to report out the draft law No. 2693 to its draftsmen for revision. UIA drew attention to a number of novelties of the bill, which, in the opinion of UIA experts, posed "significant threats not only to the mass media, but also at the domain of electronic communications of Ukraine".
On January 15, a group of MPs from the European Solidarity faction have registered an alternative media bill No. 2693-1
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