The Board notes the recent correspondence from Ukraine president Viktor Yanukovych regarding WAN-IFRA’s concern over the attempted murder of journalist Oleksander Vlaschenko and the overturning of a Superior Court decision regarding the Ukrainian newspaper Express.  The Board of WAN-IFRA welcomes the willingness of the president of Ukraine to engage in discussions on the issues raised, but calls on him to take swift action to ensure these issues are resolved expeditiously.

The future of Ukraine’s highest circulation daily, Express newspaper, was called into doubt after a court ruling declaring the company’s restructuring to be invalid. Government representatives allegedly contacted Express to offer to overturn the decision on condition the newspaper agreed to soften its criticism of the government.

The Board of WAN-IFRA reminds the government of the Ukraine that an independent press flourishes only in a climate free of government control.

The attack on Oleskander Vlaschenko and the murder ten years ago of journalist Georgy Gongadze remain unsolved. A culture of impunity forces journalists to work in a climate of fear.

The Board of WAN-IFRA calls on the government of Ukraine to make a strong commitment towards a truly free press by ensuring journalists can write the news without fear of government intervention, that those who attack and intimidate journalists are bought to justice, and that all legislation referring to the media meets international standards of freedom of the press and freedom of expression.