Last week we reported that Ukrainian Ministry of Justice has frozen all accounts and funding of the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (UA:PBC). The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) calls on Ukraine to unfreeze the broadcaster’s bank accounts.
EBU recognized that by freezing broadcaster’s bank accounts, UA:PBC will be unable to prepare for the Olympic Games and Eurovision Song Contest. It also has meant payment of staff salaries and other financial obligations have been suspended.
The Broadcasting Union believes that the debt should be settled by the state, which is the founder of the broadcaster. The Ministry of Justice froze the bank accounts in relation to the collection of an old debt to EURONEWS amounting to over 10 million euros.
Freezing the accounts of UA:PBC has meant payment of staff salaries and other financial obligations have been suspended. Moreover, UA:PBC will be unable to prepare for the broadcast of major sporting and cultural events such as the Olympic Games, Eurovision 2020 and other important international projects that help inform Ukrainian society.
EBU on the situation of UA:PBC
The EBU Director General Noel Curran says that the public broadcaster should be cherished and supported by the state of Ukraine. He hopes that Ukrainian authorities find a way to settle the debt and enable UA:PBC to serve its important remit in society.
Blocking the work of UA:PBC by freezing their accounts is restricting the critical contribution they make to society and democracy. UA:PBC is the youngest public broadcaster in Europe and needs to be cherished and supported by the state at a time when it is making substantial efforts to inform, educate and bring society together around its own national identity, history, culture and traditions.
Noel Curran on the situation of Ukraine
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