Kyiv’s Move to Label Journalists as a Threat is ‘Absurd, Counterproductive’
MOSCOW (Sputnik), Anastasia Levchenko — The sanctions imposed by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko against a number of foreign journalists are “absurd and counterproductive,” a spokeswoman for PEN International told Sputnik on Friday.
“Using broad restrictions that directly curb freedom of expression is not the way to ensure national security. Labelling journalists as a threat is absurd and counterproductive. Ukrainian authorities need to create an environment where all journalists can carry out their work freely and without fear,” Sahar Halaimzai said.
A number of international organizations, including Reporters Without Borders, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Committee to Protect Journalists and others, condemned the inclusion of journalists in the blacklist, as it infringes on freedom of speech.
All of the journalists who have been affected by the sanctions, which stipulates year-long entry bans and assets freezes, have been critical of the Ukrainian authorities in their coverage of events in Ukraine.