EaP Media Freedom Watch 3 2014 en

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NEWSLETTERNEWSLETTER

MEDIA FREEDOM WATCH PROJECTMEDIA FREEDOM WATCH PROJECT

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This newsletter has been produced within Eastern Partnership Media Freedom Watch Project, funded by the European

Union. The content of this publication can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.

IN THIS ISSUE

1. JOURNALISTS STILL ATTACKED BY POLICE AND GANGSTERS / Ukraine

2. JOURNALISTS QUIT STATE-BACKED TV CHANNELS / Ukraine

3. TWO TV STATIONS SNUB VIDEO OF TORTURES / Ukraine

4. ANOTHER NGO FOUNDED BY GEORGIA’S FORMER PRIME-MINISTER TO WORK ON

DEVELOPMENT OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA / Georgia

5. JOURNALISTS NOT CONTENT WITH NEW WORKING CONDITIONS IN RENOVATED PARLIAMENT

BUILDING / Moldova

6. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH STRESSED LACK OF PLURALISM IN ARMENIAN BROADCASTING /

Armenia

7. COMMITTEE TO PROTECT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION RECORDED 77 CASES OF VIOLATION OF

RIGHTS OF JOURNALISTS AND MASS MEDIA / Armenia8. BILL AMENDING BROADCASTING CODE REGISTERED / Moldova

9. BELARUSIAN JOURNALISTS IN KYIV: “THINGS ARE PRETTY BRUTAL HERE” / Belarus

10. HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION BECOMES MORE COMPLICATED

IN AZERBAIJAN / Azerbaijan

11. JOURNALISTS WON TRIAL AGAINST TBILISI CITY COUNCIL / Georgia

12. PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN NAMED “PERSON OF THE YEAR” BY “ANS” TV COMPANY /

Azerbaijan

13. POLICEMEN OPEN FIRE AGAINST JOURNALISTS / Ukraine

14. BALTI COURT OF APPEALS DISMISSES BANK CLAIM AGAINST NEWSPAPER / Moldova

15. REGIONAL NEWSPAPER DEFENDS POLITICAL PRISONER, ITS FORMER EMPLOYEE / Belarus





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JOURNALISTS STILL ATTACKED BY POLICE AND GANGSTERS

Ukraine / In defense of the media / 27.01.2014

Journalists, who cover mass protests in Ukraine, continue to suffer from the tyranny of the police andgangsters loyal to authorities. Attacks on journalists are reported not only in Kyiv, but accompany active

protests in Ukraine’s regions.IN LVIV, early on January 26th, three unknowns severely beat Vadim

Shevchenko (in the photo), a cameramen of the TV channel «Zik». The strangers attacked the journalist

near his house, and hit him in the face. It was clearly not a robbery as attackers did not take his money, but

seized an electronic TV channel pass. Recently Vadim filmed protesters’ storming of the regional council in

Lviv and other “hot spots”.

IN CHERKASSY on January 24th, during the clashes between protesters and the police a fighter of the

special police division “Berkut” seized a camera from Marianna Nemchenko, a photographer of the Internetmedia outlet “Pro Vse”. She was filming the detention of a group of young people. The police gave the

camera back after deleting all its content.

Also in Cherkassy two journalists of Polish TV channel “Belsat” were attacked: Serhei Marchuk was

wounded, and Yurii Vysotskii was detained by the police. The Union of Polish Journalists protested against

the arrests and expressed its worries that journalists could be deported to Belarus. The reporters are

known for their journalistic investigation in Belarus, and can face persecutions of the local authorities.

IN DNIPROPETROVSK, clashes near the building of the regional state administration took place on

January 26th. Two cameramen of the local “34 channel” asked for medical help. Both of them were wearingspecial clearly marked press vests. According to the journalists, they were shot in the back (in the photo)

with traumatic weapon by young men of sporty appearance, presumably hired by the authorities. In the

same city, in Dnipropetrovsk, the unknown showered stones onto a film crew of the TV channel ICTV.

IN ZAPORIZHIA during the dispersal of Euromaidan on the evening of January 26th Dmitrii Smolenok, a

journalist of the website “VV”, was beaten by the police and detained. Another journalist, Yurii Gudimenko,

http://imi.org.ua/news/42916-u-lvovi-pobili-operatora-telekanalu-zik.html

http://imi.org.ua/news/42912-u-cherkasah-berkutivets-napav-na-fotokora-ta-zmusiv-jiji-znischiti-fotografiji-zachistki-u-misti.html

http://www.telekritika.ua/pravo/2014-01-26/89796

http://imi.org.ua/news/42915-na-viche-u-dnipropetrovsku-operatoru-ictv-kaminnyami-poranili-shiyu-rozbili-kameru.html

http://imi.org.ua/news/42918-u-zaporijji-pid-chas-rozgonu-evromaydanu-pobili-i-zatrimali-jurnalista.html

http://imi.org.ua/news/42918-u-zaporijji-pid-chas-rozgonu-evromaydanu-pobili-i-zatrimali-jurnalista.html

http://imi.org.ua/news/42915-na-viche-u-dnipropetrovsku-operatoru-ictv-kaminnyami-poranili-shiyu-rozbili-kameru.html

http://www.telekritika.ua/pravo/2014-01-26/89796

http://imi.org.ua/news/42912-u-cherkasah-berkutivets-napav-na-fotokora-ta-zmusiv-jiji-znischiti-fotografiji-zachistki-u-misti.html

http://imi.org.ua/news/42916-u-lvovi-pobili-operatora-telekanalu-zik.html





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was injured too. “I was filming until I was struck by police truncheon in my hand, in which I was holding my

journalist ID – a useless thing, as it appeared. The hand seems undamaged, only a finger is broken.

Hospitals are full of beaten people,” he wrote on Facebook.

IN MYKOLAIV Oleh Dereniuha, a journalist of the website “NilVesti”, was attacked at a rally in support of

the ruling Party of Regions. He was filming a fight, which occurred at the rally, when a group of people

started wringing the journalist’s hands and pulling him away.

IN KHARKIV on January 25th, young men wearing sports suits attacked the supporters of Euromaidan.

Some journalists were injured: one of them got a head injury, another (a photographer of the channel

“1+1”) got his camera broken.

IN KYIV soldiers of internal troops attacked Myroslav Misa, a journalist of the Radio “Liberty”, and seized

his phone when he was filming the police frisking people on the streets. The soldiers twisted the hands of

the journalist, torn his journalistic ID and threatened him.

Based on materials by Institute of Mass Information and Telekritika

JOURNALISTS QUIT STATE-BACKED TV CHANNELS

Ukraine / In defense of the media / 24.01.2014

Oksana Korniichuk, the chief editor of news, and Yulia Galushka, the anchor of the “Novosti” and the “Itogi

Dnia” programs, are leaving the First National TV channel.

According to “Telekritika”, a Ukrainian media-focused website, they both took a leave with a further

possibility to resign.

In early December, Ihor Medelian, a special correspondent of information and analytical programs of the

First National, and the channel’s correspondents Serhiy Lefter and Yaroslav Trakalo, quit their jobs in

protest against the channel’s editorial policy.

http://imi.org.ua/news/42911-u-mikolaevi-prihilniki-pr-napali-na-jurnalista-prestupnostinet-pislya-zakliku-vidvoriti-yogo.html

http://imi.org.ua/news/42909-u-harkovi-titushki-napali-na-kolonu-evromaydanivtsiv-postrajdalo-dva-jurnalista.html

http://imi.org.ua/news/42901-jurnalist-radio-golos-svobodi-rozpoviv-scho-siloviki-yogo-bili-i-pogrojuvali-rozdyagti.html

http://imi.org.ua/news/

http://www.telekritika.ua/type/1/

http://www.telekritika.ua/type/1/

http://imi.org.ua/news/

http://imi.org.ua/news/42901-jurnalist-radio-golos-svobodi-rozpoviv-scho-siloviki-yogo-bili-i-pogrojuvali-rozdyagti.html

http://imi.org.ua/news/42909-u-harkovi-titushki-napali-na-kolonu-evromaydanivtsiv-postrajdalo-dva-jurnalista.html

http://imi.org.ua/news/42911-u-mikolaevi-prihilniki-pr-napali-na-jurnalista-prestupnostinet-pislya-zakliku-vidvoriti-yogo.html





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The First National is a state-owned channel promoting the standpoint of the Ukrainian authorities and

providing biased coverage.

Additionally, some journalists from the other state-backed channels have reportedly resigned. In particular,

Serhiy Barbu, a TV presenter, left the “112” channel, associated with Vitaliy Zakharchenko, Ukraine’s

Interior Minister. The journalist said in his Facebook page that any person “must know the moment for

drawing a line”. “Given the developments in the country, I ought to be somewhere else,” he added.

Serhiy Kudimov, a presenter of the «Business» channel, resigned too. “The level of pain I could endure was

exhausted, when people were killed at the Maidan, while I had to tell the viewers that Ukraine was

“improving” and everything was going well”, he said. TV channel «Business» is associated with Serhiy

Arbuzov, Ukraine’s First Vice Prime-Minister.

Source: Telekritika

TWO TV STATIONS SNUB VIDEO OF TORTURES

Ukraine / Politics and Media / 24.01.2014

Yesterday two leading Ukrainian TV channels – state-owned First National and private “Inter” loyal to the

authorities, didn’t broadcast shocking footage of the police mocking at a naked detained protestor. This

video shocked the Ukrainian society.

Officers of Ukraine’s Special Forces “Berkut” filmed a protestor whom they undressed and harassed. The

video was later posted online.

Snubbing these videos is another evidence that the authorities severely censor these channels.

Source: Теlekritika

http://www.telekritika.ua/profesija/2014-01-24/89737

http://www.telekritika.ua/kontent/2014-01-24/89697

http://www.telekritika.ua/kontent/2014-01-24/89697

http://www.telekritika.ua/profesija/2014-01-24/89737





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ANOTHER NGO FOUNDED BY GEORGIA’S FORMER PRIME-MINISTER TO WORK ON

DEVELOPMENT OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA

Georgia / / 24.01.2014

Bidzina Ivanishvili, a former Prime Minister of Georgia and a billionaire, founded NGO “Mokalake”

(“Citizen”). According to a special statement, issued on this occasion, the organization is to work on

development of independent media in Georgia.

Ivanishvil heads “Mokalake”, while Georgiy Sabanadze is its Executive Director.

Georgiy Sabanadze refused discussing with Media.ge specific objectives of the organization and noted that

Ivanishvili would answer all the important questions from the public on Jan. 28, when a meeting with

representatives of Georgian and international media is to be held. Views and goals of the organization are

to be discussed in detail at this meeting.

Source: media.ge

JOURNALISTS NOT CONTENT WITH NEW WORKING CONDITIONS IN RENOVATED

PARLIAMENT BUILDING

Moldova / In defense of the media / 23.01.2014

Many journalists didn’t like their new working conditions in the renovated building of the Parliament of

Moldova. Representatives of media believe that these innovations restrict freedom of the press and could

complicate the work of journalists. In particular, they are denied access to the session hall.

The chief editor of “Adevărul” Alina Turcanu considers these innovations to be an attempt to restrict

freedom of speech. “Journalists are denied access to the session hall, not to distract MPs from the

important work. But why ban applies to corridors where MPs go?” the reporter wondered.

http://www.media.ge/ru/portal/news/302132/

http://www.media.ge/ru/portal/news/302132/





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In turn, an expert of the Foreign Policy Association, Lina Grau, (previously a journalist accredited in the

parliament), draws attention to the fact that this initiative was discussed in advance with journalists and

representatives of non-governmental organizations. “This is an unprecedented attempt to close and restrict

access to information in the institution, which by definition is intended for public debate in the parliament,”

Grau says. The expert also expressed regret that the public did not resist this innovation.

A journalist of the web portal unimedia.md Elena Robu doesn’t welcome the new conditions of the press’

work. She believes that it will be more difficult for journalists to obtain information from MPs, with limited

access to them. “This initiative should be reconsidered,” Robu said.

Anisoara Login, a reporter of the channel Pro TV, also believes that journalists will face hard time in the new

conditions. “MPs can easily avoid media, and, accordingly, all the uncomfortable questions,” Login says.

Journalists found out about new working conditions in the parliament on Dec. 30, on the New Year’s Eve,

during the presentation of the parliament building, renovated after the events on April 7, 2009. Journalists

will have to work in a separate room, where they will watch MPs on the monitors. Access to MPs will be

restricted. From now on, journalists will have to contact parliamentarians through the Bureau of Public

Relations.

Source: Media- Azi.md

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH STRESSED LACK OF PLURALISM IN ARMENIAN BROADCASTING

Armenia / In defense of the media / 23.01.2014

The other day, Human Rights Watch published its annual report on the human rights situation in 2013 in

more than 90 countries worldwide.

The report on Armenia contains a separate section, which is devoted to freedom of speech. Having stressed

diverse print and online media, Human Rights Watch highlighted the lack of pluralism in broadcasting. “For

http://media-azi.md/ro/stiri/reac%C8%9Bii-ale-jurnali%C8%99tilor-la-condi%C8%9Biile-de-munc%C4%83-pentru-pres%C4%83-%C3%AEn-parlamentul-renovat

http://media-azi.md/ro/stiri/reac%C8%9Bii-ale-jurnali%C8%99tilor-la-condi%C8%9Biile-de-munc%C4%83-pentru-pres%C4%83-%C3%AEn-parlamentul-renovat





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example, only one of Armenia’s 13 television stations carries live political talk shows”, the report reads.

The report’s authors also provided opinion of international observers, who noted the media’s “selective

approach” in covering post-presidential election developments, notably limiting views critical of the

conduct of the election.

Violations of journalists’ rights and media are mentioned in the report as well.

EaP Media Freedom Watch

COMMITTEE TO PROTECT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION RECORDED 77 CASES OF VIOLATION

OF RIGHTS OF JOURNALISTS AND MASS MEDIA

Armenia / In defense of the media / 23.01.2014

On Thursday the Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression presented it annual report on the activity of

the organization during the past year. As stated by Ashot Melikian, the Chairman of the Committee, in 2013

77 cases of violation of rights of journalists and pressure on media were registered in Armenia.

Ashot Melikyan compared 2013’s situation to that of 2012. According to him, in 2012 there were 64 cases

of violations of journalists’ rights in the Republic of Armenia. This means that the year 2013 year was less

favorable for journalists than the previous one. The expert puts the increase in cases of violations of rights

of journalists in the past year down to active political life of the country. In particular, the February 2013

Presidential Elections and the May elections to Yerevan Council of Elders may have had bad implications for journalists.

Ashot Melikyan noted that all the violations can be classified into three categories: physical violence,

pressure against media representatives, and violation of the right to receive and disseminate information.

According to him, in 2013 the Committee recorded 10 cases of physical violence comparing to four cases in

2012, 57 cases of pressure on media to 37 in 2012, and 10 cases of violations of the right to receipt and





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dissemination of information to the 23 such cases in the previous year.

“The only positive moment in 2013 was the reduction of cases of violation of rights of journalists to receive

and disseminate information”, Ashot Melikian stressed. However, he also noted that in 2013 the country

saw increased number of lawsuits against journalists - 24 comparing to 17 in 2012. On most of them courts

delivered verdicts not in favor of journalists.

At the same time, Ashot Melikian is sure that the information presented in the annual report doesn’t reflect

the real situation with violations of journalists’ rights, “as many media representatives often conceal

violations against them, preferring not make their problems public and to solve the issues by themselves”.


BILL AMENDING BROADCASTING CODE REGISTERED

Moldova / Politics and Media / 22.01.2014

As reported by the omg.md, after the failure to convene a parliamentary meeting in the framework of an

extraordinary session aimed at discussing the situation in the media field, the MPs of the Party of

Communists of the Republic of Moldova registered a bill on amendments to the Broadcasting Code. They

did so despite the fact that earlier the Parliamentary Commission on Mass Media had established a special

working group to draft the law regulating the relations between broadcasters and cable operators.

According to the bill introduced by the Communists, cable operators shall be obliged to broadcast TVchannels, which produce their own news and analytical programs, free of charge.

Also the MPs suggest introducing the provision that the members of the Coordinative Council on

Broadcasting be appointed by vote of 3/5 of the members of the Parliament.

Another interesting provision of the bill is that a natural or legal person, or their affiliates, may not possess

more than two licenses for broadcasting. The current legislation allows one owner hold up to five licenses.

http://omg.md/ru/114286/

http://mediafreedomwatch.org/ru/ru-%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82-%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%88%D0%B8%D0%BB-%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%81%D1%83%D0%B6%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8C-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B5/

http://mediafreedomwatch.org/ru/ru-%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82-%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%88%D0%B8%D0%BB-%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%81%D1%83%D0%B6%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8C-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B5/






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Earlier the press reported that Vladimir Plahotniuc, the Vice-Chairman of the Democratic Party, politician

and businessman, owns most of the media assets in Moldova, including four licenses for broadcasting of TV

channels with national and quasi-national coverage.

A few days earlier the members of the Parliamentary Commission on Mass Media formed a working group

to draft the law, clarifying the relationship between broadcasters and cable operators. The reason for it

creation was the removal of the TV channels RTR Moldova, Accent TV and Jurnal TV from cable operators’

packages. The cable TV services providers resumed retransmission of the said channels after negative

international reaction and protests rallies against their actions.

Source: omg.md

BELARUSIAN JOURNALISTS IN KYIV: “THINGS ARE PRETTY BRUTAL HERE”

Belarus / Politics and Media / 22.01.2014

Belarusian photojournalist Vasilii Fedosenko, working for the “Reuters” Agency in Kiev right now, was

injured by a rubber bullet on January 22nd.Serhei Grits, another Belarusian journalist, a photographer for

the Agency “Associated Press”, told told Radio Liberty about the event with his colleague. According to

Serhei Grits, a bullet hit Vasilii in the forehead, right between his goggles and helmet. However, Fedosenko

feels well now and continues work.

“I testify that the policemen with rifles aim and shoot journalists, photographers and cameramen

deliberately”, Grits added.“The worst thing is that the police officers attack everyone indiscriminately, they don’t look whether you’re

a journalist or not; they shoot and cover with tear gas everyone present there, Yurii Karmanov, another

Belarusian journalist of the “Associated Press” Agancy working in Kiev, reports. – A journalist’s ID doesn’t

help. The things are pretty brutal here”.

EAP MEDIA FREEDOM WATCH BASED ON MESSAGES BY BAJ.BY

http://mediafreedomwatch.org/ru/14116/

http://mediafreedomwatch.org/ru/ru-%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%8B-%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B0%D1%8E%D1%82-%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BB%D1%8E%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5-%D1%82%D0%B5/


http://www.svaboda.org/

http://baj.by/be/node/23608

http://baj.by/be/node/23608

http://www.svaboda.org/


http://mediafreedomwatch.org/ru/ru-%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%8B-%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B0%D1%8E%D1%82-%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BB%D1%8E%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5-%D1%82%D0%B5/

http://mediafreedomwatch.org/ru/14116/





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HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION BECOMES MORE

COMPLICATED IN AZERBAIJAN

Azerbaijan / Politics and Media / 22.01.2014

As recent report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) informs, the human rights situation and the freedom of

expression in Azerbaijan has become even more complicated in 2013.

“The authorities of Azerbaijan have arrested on forged charges dozens of political activists, journalists

criticizing the authorities, dispersed a number of peaceful protests. The government adopted laws

restricting citizens’ fundamental rights. All this was happening on the background of Ilham Aliyev’s

elections as President for the third term with 84.5% of votes”, the report says.

Giorgii Gogia, a human rights expert on the South Caucasus, said that last year, the Azerbaijani authorities

turned to unprecedented measures against those critical towards their activities. The report mentions thenames of the arrested activists, journalists and bloggers. The HRW believes that the government has to

release them and stop the persecution of people for their political beliefs.

Rachel Denber, the HRW’s Deputy Director of the Europe and Central Asia Division, told the Washington

correspondent of the Turan News Agency in an interview that the Azerbaijani Head of State was trying to

mislead the world community, denying the existence of political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

President Aliyev, during his visit to Brussels, drew up a rosy picture, claiming that there were no“political

prisoners” in Azerbaijan. He also reminded that the majority of PACE members had rejected the resolution

on the existence of political prisoners in Azerbaijan in January of the previous year. Aliyev noted that“neither the Council of Europe, nor the European Parliament has yet agreed on the term “a political

prisoner”.

«I expect that a political leader of such a high level as of Ilham Aliyev would find time and receive detailed

information from his subordinates on the occurrences of allegedly politically motivated persecution, which

cast a dark shadow on his presidency. The officials should inform the president that, at least in 23 cases,

http://mediafreedomwatch.org/ru-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8-%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BD%D1%8B-%D1%81-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%B8%D0%B4/








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the authorities of Azerbaijan used contrived pretexts to arrest and prosecute political activists, journalists,

bloggers and human rights activists critical towards the government”, she said.

The police used different various pretexts to arrest these 23 activists – hooliganism, tax evasion, drug

possession and the like. The evidence presented at trials and documents of prosecution were very weak.

“All these cases are not only a tragedy for each of the detainees, they are a disgrace for the system of

justice of Azerbaijan, and this fact should concern the head of state in the first place”, R.Denber said.

Based on materials by www.contact.az, www.azadliq.org

JOURNALISTS WON TRIAL AGAINST TBILISI CITY COUNCIL

Georgia / Politics and Media / 21.01.2014

Tbilisi City Court sustained a claim filed by online-portal Media.ge against Tbilisi City Council. The latter one

is to meet the requirements of the media outlet and to provide it with public information on funds

transferred to TV channels and Radio stations from 2003 till the date of request. In addition, the City

Council is to compensate the lawsuit state fee paid by the media outlet. The given verdict was announced

by the judge Natia Buskadze on Jan. 20.

“The court agreed to the complainant arguments and decided that the requested information is public. The

claims of the defendant regarding the fact that given information is not archived in their office in a

processed way, cannot be a basis for the refusal to issue public information,” the judge clarified.

Media.ge Chief Editor Maia Tsiklauri filed a lawsuit to Tbilisi City Court on June 11, 2013. The first

preliminary hearing on the given dispute was held Nov.18. At one of the first hearings Court obliged Tbilisi

City Council to present evidences on whether or not requested information was archived in the City

Council. Due to the fact that the Municipality failed to provide such information to the Court, the trial was

adjourned several times.

http://www.contact.az/docs/2014/Interview/012100066083ru.htm

http://www.azadliq.org/content/article/25236978.html

http://www.azadliq.org/content/article/25236978.html

http://www.contact.az/docs/2014/Interview/012100066083ru.htm







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brutal behavior towards Ukrainian journalists.Stop Censorship representatives stated that Ukrainian

journalists became victims of the authoritarian regime. At least 25 of them were injured as a result of

clashes in downtown Kyiv on January 19-20th. Some of them were hospitalized. At least 10 injured

journalists said the police deliberately targeted them and opened fire.

This is a regrettable symptom of the way in which Ukrainian authorities “respect” media freedom and

human rights. Almost all the injured journalists were wearing bright vests clearly marked PRESS, and were

holding professional photo and video equipment.

A Radio Liberty (Radio Svoboda) journalist who was broadcasting events live actually captured the moment

in which Berkut officers aimed and fired at reporters: http://www.radiosvoboda.mobi/a/25235297.html.

This is how a rubber bullet pierced through a Channel 5 camera: http://5.ua/69909. Natalka Pisnya, a

journalist at 1+1 TV channel, was injured in her leg with a similar bullet: http://5.ua/69925. A cameraman of

Spilno TV, an online TV channel, also suffered a hand injury while broadcasting the police attack:

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/42895376.

Events in the "government quarter" of downtown Kyiv became powerful evidence of negative

developments in the Ukrainian media in the past few years: assaults, equipment damage, shooting and

detention became common practice aimed at preventing journalists from reporting about violations and

from knowing the truth.

When an American tank killed Ukrainian journalist Taras Protsiuk in Iraq, the American authorities assured

that the soldiers took the camera flash for a glint of a shooter’s gun. This was not an explanation,

journalists said throughout the world. However, in Ukraine we are not even expecting this kind of

explanations from authorities: no soldier or policemen was punished for violence exerted on peaceful

demonstrators since November 30th. On the contrary, the press service of the Ministry of Interior said today

that aimed fire at journalists had been a provocation against the police:

http://euromaidan.rbc.ua/rus/mvd-dopuskaet-chto-informatsiya-o-strelbe-po-zhurnalistam-2001201410580

0

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

http://www.radiosvoboda.mobi/a/25235297.html

http://5.ua/69909

http://5.ua/69925

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/42895376





http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/42895376

http://5.ua/69925

http://5.ua/69909

http://www.radiosvoboda.mobi/a/25235297.html





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Stop Censorship was founded on May 21st, 2010. It is an informal group of journalists which has been

created in response to the oppression of freedom of speech in Ukraine.

Stop Censorship is the initiative of Ukrainian journalists and media NGOs aimed at defending freedom of

speech, preventing censorship, as well as combating interference with journalistic activities and violations

of professional standards in covering social and political issues.

The movement neither supports, nor received funds from any political party.

To learn more or to join the Stop Censorship please visit:

http://www.telekritika.ua/news/2010-05-22/53128

Its official blog: http://stopcensorship.wordpress.com

Or Twitter: http://twitter.com/Stopcensorship

Contact person:

Artem Sokolenko, coordinator of Civic movement Stop Censorship

Tel.: + 38 050 440 46 08

e-mail. [email protected]

BALTI COURT OF APPEALS DISMISSES BANK CLAIM AGAINST NEWSPAPER

Moldova / Media in the legal field / 20.01.2014

Balti Court of Appeals dismissed the case of Moldindconbank against Adevarul newspaper, in which the

former requested damages in the amount of over 11,000 euros. The conflict arose after the newspaper

published an investigation on bank loans taken by Chisinau Court of Appeals chairman Ion Plesca.


http://stopcensorship.wordpress.com/

http://twitter.com/Stopcensorship

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://twitter.com/Stopcensorship

http://stopcensorship.wordpress.com/






20.01.2014 - 27.01.201420.01.2014 - 27.01.2014



Previously, Chisinau District Court also dismissed the case, but the bank attacked its decision at the higher

court.

Roman Zadoinov, the newspaper’s lawyer, said that the Court of Appeals dismissed the claim due to lack of

legal grounds. In addition, the bank had violated the procedure of filing a lawsuit to the court. The lawyer

also argued that the information published in the investigation titled “Judge with bank debts of dozens of

millions lei” did not affect the interests of the bank. “The media has the right to publish information about

public officials. If a newspaper affected the interests of the judge Plesca, then he should have filed a lawsuit

- but not the bank,” Zadoinov said.

Earlier, on June 5th, 2013, Chisinau District Court decided the information in the newspaper Adevarul did

not harm the interests of Moldindconbank, and representatives of the bank failed to provide sufficient

evidence to support their claim. The plaintiff stated that the investigation “Judge with bank debts of dozens

of millions lei” published on September 20th by Adevarul, contained “information that does not correspond

to reality, which defames and damages the reputation” of financial institutions quoted in the article,including Moldinconbank.

The investigation described how the chairman of the Chisinau Court of Appeal Ion Plesca registered as

collateral the same apartment at two banks in order to obtain several loans totaling 17 million lei (over one

million euros). The newspaper noted that the price of the apartment was estimated at nearly 1.2 million lei

(about 73,600 euros), which is ten times less than the amount of credits received.

The newspaper informs that a similar trial involving another bank mentioned in the investigation,

Victoriabank, is also in the process of being heard. The financial institution also demands 200,000 lei from

Adevarul.

Source: adevarul.md

REGIONAL NEWSPAPER DEFENDS POLITICAL PRISONER, ITS FORMER EMPLOYEE

Belarus / Politics and Media / 20.01.2014

http://adevarul.ro/moldova/actualitate/moldindconbank-plesca-investigatie-1_52d55bdac7b855ff56798cc5/index.html

http://adevarul.ro/moldova/actualitate/moldindconbank-plesca-investigatie-1_52d55bdac7b855ff56798cc5/index.html





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Eugenii Vaskovich, a “Bobruisk courier” journalist have been punitively confined in a special housing unit

(SHU) for eight months out of almost three years of imprisonment. Now a 22 -year-old prisoner’s weight is

65 kg, while he is 186 cm tall.

A protest statement has been published on the website of the newspaper “Bobruisk Courier”, where E.

Vaskovich had worked for a year and a half.

The newspaper’s editors claims that Eugenii Vaskovich has been punitively confined in SHU for 247 days

out of almost three years of serving his sentence in the prison №4 of Mogilev city. Moreover, the newspaper

reports that punitive confinement in SHU is considered to be tortures, according to international

classification.

Eugenii was punitively confined for the last time for 10 days, on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 27.

This punishment regime (he is allowed to have only one grocery parcel weighing up to two kg within a

year) has affected his physical condition - Eugenii Vaskovich’s weight is only 65 kg, while his height is 186

cm.

The editors reminds that a citizen of the Republic of Belarus, who is serving his sentence in prison, is not

deprived of his or her legitimate civil rights.

“Moreover, -“Bobruisk Courier” writes - Eugene Vaskovich was convicted under a legally unjustified article,

for the actions he hadn’t done, - damaging on a large scale, while the damage from his actions amounted

to 253,000 rubles (at the time about $ 84). This is the cost of a small section of whitewash of administrative

facade that had been soiled.

Eugene Vaskovich was convicted for arson attempt of the KGB building in Bobruisk, where firebombs were

thrown on the night of Oct. 17, 2010. On May 18, 2011, Vaskovich, together with other members, was

convicted for criminal charges with “hooliganism” and “intentional destruction of or damage to property on

a large scale” to seven years of imprisonment in a penal colony with a reinforced regime.


Documents

EaP Media Freedom Watch 3 2014 en