Reporters without borders condemn the new sanctions of Ukraine against Russian media. In the DW-Interview with Christian Mihr, Executive Director of the NGO says, what Kiev in the information war with Russia should be.
Deutsche Welle: The Ukrainian government has extended its sanctions against Russian media massively, both television channels as well as social networks. What reporters without borders thinks about it?
Christian Mihr: For reporters without borders, this is an unacceptable attack on freedom of expression and freedom of the press. For one, are now relegated to classic media on the Ukrainian television network. On the other social networks are blocked for the freedom of the press is very important. Because there are not any social networks – it is the largest of the Russian-speaking space: Odnoklassniki (classmates) and Vkontakte. These platforms are important for freedom of expression and freedom of the press. People can communicate there and share content. This is very important for freedom of information. Therefore, we condemn the blocking as an attack on the information and the freedom of the press.
Christian Mihr
Ukraine sees itself in a defensive war against the Russian Federation. Modern wars are not fought only with weapons but also with information. Social media play a very large role, keyword Fake News. It is not a legitimate measure of the Ukrainian government to limit enemy influence?
You can’t punish the Bearer of news. We have always warned that it is not the responsibility of media is, in the unilaterally-declared information war of Russia to enter. Media platforms to Deliver messages. This also includes social networks. We can not punish these platforms for you to spread certain messages. The information war was declared by the Russian side, and in this war no one should, because information wars are not good. Information is something Important for every society, for conflict solutions. Also, the war between the Ukraine and Russia needs true information. This is not to say that there are no lies and false news. Nevertheless, it is an attack on freedom of information, to lock the Bearer of messages. This is under no circumstances acceptable.
What would be a wiser response of the Ukrainian government, instead of the ban?
Ukraine can keep up with good journalism, in contrast, by increasing, for example, the resources for the Ukrainian international broadcaster, and shows what independent journalism can do and offer, especially in comparison to what Russian media, unfortunately, often. This is often controlled and is equal to switched to journalism. It would be a good Signal to strengthen the independent Ukrainian journalism in the framework of the Foreign broadcaster. It is also a strong Signal to those a journalist would be but on the inside, and to strengthen journalists in Ukraine, the advocacy for freedom of the press. By pursuing, for example, the continuing criminal free to murder, in the Ukraine, and shows that it has an interest, that journalists work under pressure in Ukraine, but that they can carry out their important task for the democracy and the search for solutions in the war between Ukraine and Russia. You can only do that if you are independent and free from pressure and threat.
Christian Mihr is a Journalist, human rights activist and expert on international media policy. Since 2012 he is with reporters without borders Director. The international non-governmental organization, and the world for freedom of the press and against censorship.
The conversation Vladimir Esipov.