Zelensky imposed sanctions against Pershyy Nezalezhny and Ukrlive TV channels

The President Volodymyr Zelensky enacted the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to apply sanctions against the Pershy Nezalezhny (First Independent) channels (Time Media LLC) and UkrLive (Teleprostir LLC).

The relevant decree №684 / 2021 “On the application of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions)” was made public on the President's website.

Thus, sanctions for a period of five years have been applied to Mediaholding Novyny LLC, Time Media LLC and Teleprostir LLC.

Sanctions include: blocking assets; restrictions on trade transactions; ban on the use of radio frequency resources of Ukraine; restriction or termination of the provision of telecommunications services and the use of public telecommunications networks, etc.

As it was reported that on February 18, 2021, Mediaholding Novyny LLC established by 100 employees of Medvedchuk's sanctionned TV channels (ZIK, 112 Ukraina and NewsOne). The owner of Time Media LLC with a 100% share is Media Holding Novyny LLC.

On September 24, Nestor Shufrych, a member of parliament from the Opposition Platform for Life and chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech, had acquired a 60% of the shares of Pershy Nezalezhny TV channel (Time Media LLC).

In November, Nestor Shufrych became the owner of Teleprostir LLC (UkrLive TV channel). 

On February 2, 2021, the President Volodymyr Zelensky enacted the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of February 2, 2021 "On the application of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions)", which provides for five years of sanctions against MP Taras Kozak and legal entities that own TV channels 112 Ukraine, NewsOne and ZIK.