He said Ukrainian publishers are heavily dependent on imports from other CIS countries. Onufriichuk also said he was concerned about the small number of Ukrainian-language publications. Most are in Russian, he said. While several printing companies are scheduled for privatization this year, many publications will remain subsidized by the government. Chrystyna Lapychak, OMRI, Inc. 3.
Ukrainian journalists accuse Crimean authorities of limiting free speech.
The Union of Journalists of Ukraine issued a statement condemning the presidium of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea for an unprecedented move, namely withdrawing permanent accreditation to the local parliament from one of Crimea s leading journalists, Hryhoriy Yoffe. The pertinent decision by the presidium of Crimea s Supreme Council provides no essential explanation but only unfounded accusations to the effect that the journalist infringed Ukraine s laws on information and the printed mass media. As a matter of fact, the presidium of the legislative body assumed the powers of a judicial authority. The statement called the action another attempt to gag the freedom of speech and introduce political censorship in Crimea, because journalists who do not share the political views of the parliament s majority are deprived of access to information. Ukraine inks broadcast TV deal.