Meeting at their Annual General Assembly on 13 September 2010 in Vienna, Austria, the IPI members unanimously adopted a resolution calling on Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and the Ukrainian authorities to end attacks on journalists and ensure that the media is free to operate without interference by the government.
After years of improvement of the press freedom climate in Ukraine, the situation has recently seriously deteriorated. There has been a spate of attacks against journalists. The broadcasting licenses of independent television stations TVi and Channel 5 were suspended by the courts on 30 August, ostensibly because of irregularities in the license awarding process.
Vasyl Klymentyev, the editor in chief of Noviy Stil newspaper, which focuses on corrupt government practices, is missing and feared dead. His disappearance follows his refusal to accept bribes or suppress stories.
IPI‘s members called on the Ukrainian authorities to investigate thoroughly the circumstances of Mr. Klymentyev‘s disappearance and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. They must also end impunity for those who attack journalists.
IPI‘s members further resolved that Ukrainian authorities should forthwith grant licenses to TVi and Channel 5, ensuring that the press freedom that was hard won over many years does not deteriorate further because of the interference of business and government interests.