OSCE Media Representative concerned over Ukraine adopting additional restrictive legislation against journalists

VIENNA, 15 July 2003 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Freimut Duve, expressed dismay over the decision by the Ukrainian Parliament to outlaw the protection of journalists' sources. On 9 July the Ukrainian Parliament adopted a law that also allows for the detention of journalists suspected of revealing State secrets.

"This law, which changes certain aspects of existing Ukrainian law, will, I believe, give excessive power to the Ukrainian secret service, including the right to obtain information regarding journalists' sources," Freimut Duve said in a letter to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Anatoliy Zlenko.

The law also provides for the Ukrainian secret service to arrest journalists who have been investigating issues related to state secrets and who intend to publish this information.

"It is ominous that your country, where the media situation has been steadily deteriorating for the past five years, should decide at this point to approve a highly restrictive law that would have a chilling effect on the work of journalists, especially those investigating corruption," wrote the OSCE Media Representative.

Freimut Duve supports proposals by the International Federation of Journalists to take up this matter with the Council of Europe, the OSCE and with the General Affairs Council of the European Union.