Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine stands out for the freedom of speech in Ukraine, particularly on the occupied territory of AR Crimea.
Recent events on the peninsula demonstrate a loss of professional dignity on the part of the Federal Security Service (FSB) and Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. It is evidenced by searches, detentions, and interrogations of an operator of Crimean channel ATR Eskender Nebiiev, former journalists of such independent online media as BlackSeaNews – Tetiana Guchakova, “Center for Journalist Investigations” (CJI) — Anna Shaidurova, Sevastopol blogger Galyna Denysova, as well as a criminal case under Article 280.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Public calls to act against territorial integrity of the Russian Federation” instituted against CJI journalist Anna Andrievska. All these actions are signs of systemic pressure upon Crimean journalists, bloggers and independent Crimean media.
Advisor to the Minister of Information Policy on Crimean policy Sergii Kostynskyi believes that each similar fact of violation of Crimean journalists’ rights is subject to the art. 171 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine “Deliberate obstruction of journalist professional activities”, art. 162 “Violation of security of residence”, and art. 146 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine “Unlawful imprisonment or kidnapping”.
It worth noting that almost every week one may observe facts of destruction of the freedom of speech in Crimea by FSB and Investigative Committee actions depriving Crimean journalists of their right for profession. MIP believes that this situation is the evidence of degradation of European values in the occupied Crimea and the loss of professional honor and dignity by officers of the Russian special services and law enforcement agencies.