It is difficult to legally qualify what is happening — MP on pressure on Ukrayinska Pravda

It is currently difficult to legally define the pressure being exerted on Ukrayinska Pravda outlet by the President’s Office.

This was stated by Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, MP of Ukraine and Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech, during an interview on Hromadske Radio.

MP Yurchyshyn mentioned that he had contacted Sevgil Musayeva, the editor-in-chief of the publication. Together they discussed how Ukrayinska Pravda plans to proceed in this situation. Specifically, whether the editorial board would file a formal complaint regarding the pressure from the President’s Office:

«I immediately reached out to Ms. Sevgil, to learn about their next legal steps and whether they plan to file a formal complaint regarding the pressure or a crime. Indeed, it is quite difficult to legally qualify what is happening in this case.»

As a reminder, on 9 October, Ukrayinska Pravda’s editorial office published a statement claiming that the Presidential Office has been exerting long-term, systematic pressure on the publication and its individual journalists.

«We would like to draw the attention of colleagues, partners, and international organizations to the long-term, systematic pressure that the Office of the President is placing on the editorial board and specific journalists of Ukrayinska Pravda.»

The publication outlined several actions that it believes threaten the sustainable work of its editorial office:

• Blocking government speakers from communicating with Ukrayinska Pravda journalists or participating in events.
• Pressuring businesses to halt advertising cooperation with Ukrayinska Pravda.
• Openly confrontational communication between President Zelenskyy and Ukrayinska Pravda journalist Roman Kravets.

In addition, Ukrayinska Pravda officially stated that any attempt by specific officials from the Presidential Office to influence or pressure its journalists would be publicly exposed and have consequences on an international level.

«We call on everyone who values freedom of speech and the independence of Ukrainian journalism to stand with us and defend these values,» the statement concluded.