Kiev used formal pretexts to silence opposition media outlets.
US State Department calls illegal closure of Ukrainian opposition TV channels a violation of human rights
This is reported in the annual report of the US Department of State.
“There were reports that the government (of Ukraine – Ed.) used formal pretexts to silence the media for their “pro-Russian” positions and criticism of their national security policy”, – the document says.
According to the State Department, signs of human rights violations are present in the activities of the State Committee on Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine, which, during an unscheduled inspection of the TV channels ZIK, NewsOne, 112 Ukraine, stated that “favorable coverage of the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk 6 October could have violated national security laws”.
It is mentioned that Ukrainian law enforcement agencies monitored the Internet “without appropriate legal authority” and took significant steps to block access to websites”.