| Media watchdog concerned at pressure on Crimean TV channel |
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| Wednesday, 11 August 2010 19:29 |
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The Committee for Monitoring Press Freedom in Crimea has sent a letter to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych expressing concern over pressure exerted on Crimea's biggest and oldest private television and radio company, the Black Sea Television and Radio Company, the UNIAN news agency reported today.
The watchdog also urged him to take the situation surrounding the channel under his personal control. In a statement forwarded to UNIAN, the Committee for Monitoring Press Freedom in Crimea said that it viewed as a threat to press freedom the order freezing the assets of the company which, according to its senior management, was issued as part of a criminal case to which the channel has no connection.
The committee said that attempts to restrict or complicate the operations of the television channel ahead of the local elections scheduled for October 31 could "considerably affect the right of Crimeans and Sevastopol residents to have access to full information in order to make a conscious choice".
"Remaining one of the most popular television and radio companies in Crimea, Black Sea TV has occupied a special position on Crimea's politicized media market. Often critical of the Ukrainian, Crimean and Sevastopol authorities, this television and radio company has thereby ensured the fullness of the entire political spectrum of views in the region," the committee noted in the statement. It also asked Ukrainian and international human rights organizations for support.
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