SEE THE #MomProject ABOUT UKRAINIANS MEDIA INDEPENDENCE

Ukraine has a diversified media landscape and its authorities have adopted a number of long-awaited reforms since the 2014 revolution, including a law on media ownership transparency. But these gains are fragile. Much more is needed to loosen the oligarchs’ tight grip on the media, encourage editorial independence and combat impunity for crimes of violence against journalists. “Information warfare” with Russia has had negative consequences that include bans on Russian media and social media, cyber-harassment and treason trials. The Covid-19 pandemic has not brought any respite in the threats and attacks against journalists, and has been used by local authorities as a pretext for restricting access to information even more. The murders of investigative journalists Pavel Sheremet, Georgi Gongadze and Vadym Komarov have still not been solved, encouraging impunity for violence against the media. Concern continues to focus on news manipulation, violations of the confidentiality of sources, cyber-attacks, and excesses in the fight against fake news. The separatist-controlled east of the country is still a no-go area without critical journalists or foreign observers.