Destabilization of public broadcasting before the elections is inadmissible

Internews Ukraine is deeply concerned about early termination of the contract with Zurab Alasania, Chairman of the Board at the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (UA:PBC). We look forward to publishing the minutes of the Supervisory Board meeting for a thorough analysis of the reasons for such a decision and verification of legal compliance.

It should be noted that timing is equally important in this case. Because even the right things made at the wrong time may lead to unwanted consequences. The destabilization of a public broadcaster during the pre-election period poses a threat to democratic processes in Ukraine and play into the hands of external enemy.

The Supervisory Board of UA:PBC, by its decision of January 31, 2019, demonstrated the ignorance of these principles or the reluctance to follow them. Whatever the causes of such actions (incompetence or political manipulation), the Supervisory Board failed to fulfill its mission of ensuring stable and effective operation of Public Broadcaster as one of the most important democratic institutions in Ukraine.

We call the members of the Supervisory Board of UA:PBC to review its decision and correct the mistakes for the sake to uphold the national interests of Ukraine and the entire Ukrainian society.

Internews Ukraine

Detector Media

Institute of Mass Information (IMI)

Susplinist Foundation

Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law