Ukrainian journalists stage freedom protest

on 03/09/2012 11:07:51

About a dozen Ukrainian journalists rose from their seats and held up posters against government censorship during President Viktor Yanukovych's speech on press freedom at a newspaper conference.

Mr Yanukovych spoke today at the opening of the annual World Newspaper Congress in the Ukrainian capital amid concerns over declining media freedoms in the ex-Soviet nation.

As soon as he began his speech, a handful of journalists rose and held up posters reading "Stop Censorship."

Mr Yanukovych did not react to the protest and there was no immediate comment from his office.

Media watchdogs say that press freedoms have waned since Mr Yanukovych came to power in 2010.

Jacob Mathew, president of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, urged Ukrainian authorities to "regain freedoms that sustain democracy and human dignity."