Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City
Al-Qassam: We will postpone the handover of the body of the Israeli captive we found, which was scheduled for today, due to the occupation's violations
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation aircraft launch airstrikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip
Netanyahu's office: At the end of the security consultations, the prime minister instructed the military to launch massive military strikes on the Gaza Strip immediately
President Aoun: We urge the activation of the monitoring committee, the cessation of hostilities, ongoing Israeli violations, attacks
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to US Envoy Morgan Ortagus: Southerners must be enabled to return to their homes and rebuild
Syrian sources: The Israeli occupation has begun withdrawing from the areas it infiltrated last night in the Quneitra countryside.

Zelensky signs controversial law regulating press freedom, EU unhappy

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News website
  • 2 Jan 2023 15:27
  • 4 Shares
2 Min Read

The National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council will now preside over media organizations and journalists in Ukraine, thus acquiring more power and threatening free speech. 

  • x
  • Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky (The Hill)
    Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. Source: The Hill.

A controversial statute has just been signed into law on Thursday by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which extends the government’s power to take control over media groups and journalists in Ukraine. 

As a result, the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council (NTRBC), whose members are appointed by the president’s administration and by members of parliament, will now preside over media organizations and journalists in Ukraine, thus acquiring more power and threatening free speech. 

Read next: Media freedom is in danger in Eastern Europe

The Kyiv Independent reported that the agency now can shut down unregistered news websites, which comes after the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine released in a statement last month that the bill posed a “threat” to freedom of the press.

Related News

AI to double oil output, keep fossil fuels dominant: Aramco chief

Russian Lukoil plans fire sale of foreign assets due to sanctions

“Such powers are clearly excessive,” the organization relayed, adding: “No one has yet managed to tame freedom of speech in Ukraine. It won’t work this time either.”

Not the first and not the last 

This isn't the first time Zelensky's legislation has been chastised. He was accused of undermining press freedom when he first took office in 2019, after drafting legislation to expedite media regulation.

Previous draft versions provided the NTRBC more ability to impose fines, take away licenses and block online outlets from publishing restricted information. However, several international media organizations voiced opposition when the drafts were published, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and the European Federation of Journalists (EPJ). 

The EPJ's General Secretary, Ricardo Gutierrez, stated to The New York Times that Zelensky's law goes against European press freedom standards. He added: “Ukraine will demonstrate its European commitment by promoting a free and independent media, not by establishing state control of information,”

Gutierrez called the previous draft of the law “worthy of the worst authoritarian regimes", according to the NYT.

Read next: Former US intelligence officer: West preparing to replace Zelensky

  • Russia
  • Freedom of Speech
  • Volodymyr Zelensky
  • Ukraine

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and Egyptian workers search for the bodies of hostages in a tunnel discovered during searches in Hamad City, Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' obstructing Gaza body recovery, creating false claims: Hamas

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawwaf Salam talks to US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus at the Grand Serail in Beirut, Lebanon, October 28, 2025 (NNA)
Politics

Salam conveys to Ortagus goals behind any possible negotiations

Writers boycott NYT, demand justice as Gaza media ban faces court
Politics

300+ writers boycott NYT Opinion, cite persistent anti-Palestine bias

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, Injure 3 Palestinians
Politics

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, injure 3 Palestinians

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS