Censorship stands in the way of free democratic discussions

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has crossed the line the moment he decided to shut down three opposition TV channels – NewsOne, 112 Ukraine and ZIK. Nicolas Bay, the French politician and MEP said so in an interview.

“It always raises concerns when you see that censorship is applied to media. Escpecially when the head of the state takes such unilateral action. President Zelensky took upon himself a tough responsibility, having made the decision to ban the work of major opposition TV channels – on his own initiative. It defines the border between the democratic regime, when everyone has the opportunity to express their own opinion, and the authoritarian regime. This is definitely a change of course. I’m not feeling like interfering with Ukraine’s political life as long as I’m a MEP. But as it concerns me, I state this: someone wants to shut someone else’s mouth, to make someone else keep silence, and to keep the opposition away from expressing their thoughts. As Mr. Medvedchuk and those who support him express a position of union and reconciliation of Ukrainians, rejecting the attempts to manipulate Ukraine in the international arena, some people would like to see Ukraine standing against Russia all the time. The situation looks like this: those who face censorship are actually clinging to the rational and well-adjusted position on the political arena of Ukraine”, he said.

According to him, the government should not introduce censorship, because it stands in the way of free democratic discussions.

(c) 112