Flickr/Iain Watson
Ukrainian authorities commence banning Russian mass media sources. As it was revealed today, Kiev blocked the access to websites of MIA Russia Today and RIA Novosti – Ukraine, RIA Novosti reports.
Both mass media sources were put under sanctions. Their assets will be frozen. The access to such web pages as «Rossiasegodnya.rf», sputniknews.com, ria.ru, rsport.ria.ru, 1prime.ru, realty.ria.ru and rian.com.ua will be limited.
The corresponding bill was signed by the Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko.
According to General Director of MIA Russia Today Dmitri Kiselev this step proves one more time that Kiev’s regime taking over the power in the country failed to settle the routine of the society in correspondence with the democratic principles.
Now Kiev is bound to pursue journalists and common citizens, impede the freedom of speech and ban mass media sources. The Russian journalists supposed that Poroshenko is going to clean up the entire media environment before the Presidential elections.
Russian Parliament members referred to this action by the Ukrainian authorities as another act of censorship. According to the Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs Leonid Kalashnikov, this question has to be discussed by the international societies. He reminded that Europe is not in haste to give any response to exert influence on Kiev in any manner. Arrest of Kirill Vyshinsky is another proof of this.
Parliament member Anton Morozov believes that banning Russian mass media sources might give reason for imposing sanctions against Kiev.
Chairman of the Federation Council for International Relations Konstantin Kosachev has mentioned that exerting pressure on mass media might mean Kiev’s preparation for a large military provocation. He reminded about recent aggravation of the situation in Donbass.
Russkiy Mir
