London – Criticisms about press censorship in the war in Ukraine are almost always directed at Russia, this time against the occupied country, and this Monday (14th) American CNN and British Sky News journalists have their accreditation revoked. The extent of the liberation of the city of Kherson.
The two channels broadcast live on Saturday morning (12), starring Sky war correspondent Alex Rossi and CNN Diplomacy editor Nic Robertson, documenting the emotions of the people on the street as Ukrainian troops arrived following the Russian withdrawal.
Although the weather is positive for Ukraine, on Monday Armed Forces Chief of Staff published a statement on its website that the license of international broadcasters or local vehicles was revoked, breaking the rules without naming them.
Journalists welcomed Ukraine
None of the reports criticize Ukraine, on the contrary. Claiming to be the first international network to broadcast news from Kherson, Sky showed people on the streets thanking the soldiers and even hugging the reporter.
Kherson residents told Sky’s @alexrossiSKY that they felt ‘relaxed and excited’ while celebrating the liberation of the city.
Live updates: https://t.co/X3flQUk9BR pic.twitter.com/2c8iDLw6ii
– SkyNews (@SkyNews) 13 November 2022
The same thing happened with Robertson’s report, which vividly showed the joy of the people for 11 minutes and interviewed Ukrainians who resisted taking the city.
He reported the destruction of the city’s infrastructure and the difficulty of rebuilding what had been rendered useless, but without signs of criticism directed at the local government but not Russia.
During the conversation, the people around sang the resistance anthem.
released #Kherson https://t.co/4OSVFFrM4Q
—Nic Robertson (@NicRobertsonCNN) 12 November 2022
Censorship of journalists in Ukraine for ‘grave violation’
Although the teams were not disguised or were in a place where the representatives of the armed forces could not see them, the memo of the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that “recently, some members of the media, disregarding the current prohibitions and warnings, without the consent of the commanders and services, the relevant public relations officer of the military units in the city of Kherson even before the completion of the stabilization measures. carried out information activities”.
According to the statement, such actions are “grave violations of the requirements of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine No. 73 of 03.03, as well as the relevant orders of the military command.”
For this reason, the General Staff reported that the work permits of the press members accused of violating the rules in the conflict area were canceled and their press cards were invalidated.
Neither Sky nor CNN immediately commented on the cancellation. The Committee to Protect Journalists has issued a statement expressing its concerns over what it called a “hard decision”.
“CPJ is concerned about the harsh decision of the Ukrainian authorities to revoke the accreditation of local and international reporters for reporting on the newly liberated city. #Kherson,” aforementioned @gulnozas???????? @CPJ_Eurasia????????#Ukraine #Freedom of the press pic.twitter.com/r8lA8k34oN
— Committee to Protect Journalists (@pressfreedom) 14 November 2022
What does Ukraine say about the punishment of journalists?
Ukrainian anti-fake news NGO Detector Media said it spoke to two sources, finding that six journalists, including Sky News and CNN reporters, had lost their credentials.
Others broadcasting from Kherson were the channel Suspilny, Hromadske and Rada.
The organization questioned the press center head of the Combined Coordination of Southern Forces, who claimed that the city was full of people, uneventful and peaceful in the images broadcast by the two channels, but claimed a “danger” for journalists. reported. registered.
According to Nataliya Gumenyuk, Order 73 establishes that the mode of work of journalists is determined by the commander of the relevant unit, who “only permits such work in the presence of an accreditation card and presentation, as appropriate, accompanied by a press officer.” advance application”.
Gumenyuk stated that the arrival of some journalists is the same as crossing the street at a red light and said, “Everyone knows that this cannot be done, it is officially forbidden, but they still cross the street.”
Detector Media argued that journalists traveled to Kherson to speak to locals who would be in danger as well as film crews, but were not prohibited from taking to the streets.
At the start of the war, a SkyNews crew was ambushed on a road in Ukraine and one of the network’s best-known international reporters was injured, but even then, journalists were not prevented from continuing to cover the war.
Also read | The car with the British journalists was ambushed in Ukraine and two people were injured; Watch the video
The consultant claimed the residents were hostages to the situation, but expressed dismay at the possibility that media crews could rent apartments and stay in the city longer, which would contradict security operations and military intelligence in the city.
Gumenyuk denied that some journalists had been given permission by the military to enter Kherson or went with them, but news footage shown on Saturday showed reporters documenting the soldiers’ arrival in open vehicles.
He complained that all journalists wanted to get into Kherson at the same time, as Detector Media explained with reference to the historic moment:
“It’s their job and you can understand why journalists want to be at the center of events.”
The consultant reported that there will be only partial access in the coming days.
Also read | Russia fined Wikipedia, new episode of Putin’s war-related information censorship
source: Noticias
