Ukraine: RSF calls for greater media access to Parliament to improve transparency for citizens
The Ukrainian Parliament has adopted amendments that, for the first time since the large-scale Russian invasion on 24 February 2022, open parliamentary committee meetings to the media. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcomes this step towards greater transparency and calls for expanded access to Parliament for all journalists.
On 14 January, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted amendments to Bill No. 11321 by a large majority — 286 votes out of 401 — restoring access to parliamentary committee meetings for Ukrainian journalists and the public for the first time since the large-scale Russian invasion on 24 February 2022. Supported by civil society organisations such as the Institute of Mass Information, RSF’s Ukrainian partner, which contributed to drafting these amendments, this measure strengthens public transparency.
“The media’s ability to cover parliamentary work is essential for the transparency of public affairs in Ukraine. RSF welcomes the Parliament’s decision to open committee meetings to journalists and calls on President Zelensky to swiftly enact this law. However, more must be done: journalists must be allowed to attend debates in the main chamber and interact with Parliament members.
The law aims to improve "certain guarantees for the media, journalists, and citizens in terms of access to information.” Once enacted, it will require parliamentary committees to publish their agendas 24 hours in advance and make meeting recordings available online on the committees’ web pages no later than 24 hours after the session ends. The law is waiting to be approved by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has until 3 February to sign it. Once ratified, it will take effect within a month.
Despite the progress of this amendment, RSF warns that journalists' access to Parliament remains restricted. Since May 2024, only 30 accredited Ukrainian journalists have been allowed to follow parliamentary debates from a transmission room, without direct access to the press gallery or the corridors where MPs circulate, limiting their interactions with lawmakers. Before the 2022 Russian full-scale invasion and the introduction of martial law, nearly 4,000 journalists were accredited to the Parliament.
Ukraine ranks 61st out of 180 countries in the RSF 2024 World Press Freedom Index.
