YouTube video hosting blocked UkrLive and First Independent channels, which were subject to sanctions in Ukraine. This was announced on Friday, February 4, by the website of the 112 Ukraine TV channel.
“On the night of February 4, the YouTube platform closed a number of accounts from which independent channels broadcast, thus trying to deprive the citizens of Ukraine of the opportunity to learn the truth about the situation in the country and in the world from the journalists of the UkrLive and First Nezalezhny TV channels,” the statement says.
At the same time, the channel adds that UkrLive and Perviy Nezalezhny changed their YouTube platforms after the closure. The media is currently available for viewing. According to journalists, such decisions are a manifestation of censorship.
“We will continue our work. We won’t stop. We feel the support of millions of Ukrainian citizens who want to live in a country where people have the right to choose which channel to watch. Where the authorities protect the rights and freedoms of their citizens, and do not trample them, ”the journalists pointed out.
At the same time, they drew attention to the fact that in the country “through the efforts of the authorities of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a monopoly on information is being created, by purging and intimidating all opposition media, thereby forcing the majority of the population to watch biased and propagandistic media.”
Earlier, on February 4, the editor-in-chief of the Lugansk Information Center (LIC), Sergei Meshkovoy, announced that the agency’s channel on YouTube was blocked. According to him, the channel was removed at night, and this was done without notice. It also became known about the blocking of the channel of the Ministry of Information of the self-proclaimed DPR.
On February 2, 2021, Zelensky put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council to introduce restrictions against the TV and radio company 112 Ukraine, its regional channels Ariadna TV, TV Choice, New Format, Partner TV and Leader TV, as well as “News 24 hours” company (NewsOne TV channel). The President of Ukraine explained his decision by the fight against “propaganda”.
On February 3, 112 Ukraine, NewsOne and ZIK TV channels stopped broadcasting. On the same day, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine sent a request to the YouTube video hosting administration with the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to block Ukrainian TV channels.
On December 30, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Zelensky’s decree on the imposition of sanctions against opposition TV channels continued Kiev’s line of establishing total censorship. According to her, what is happening now in Ukraine is “just blacking out any alternative point of view.”
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
