ATN journalists picket Mayor of Kharkiv’s office

A picket was held on Monday outside the Mayor of Kharkiv’s office by members of TV ATN, unlawfully removed from air last week.

Around a hundred people gathered, with other Kharkiv journalists, human rights activists and members of the public coming to support the channel.

The picketers held placards reading: “Who’s scared of whom?”’ “News without additions” and “News diet from the Mayor”.  All the journalists were gagged with black ribbons.

A platform was erected outside the Mayor’s Office from which news reader Oleksandr Tykhonov read out the latest news release.

The picketers also brought a symbolic coffin for freedom of speech to the Mayor, Gennady Kernes.

As reported, last week three Kharkiv TV companies – ATN, Fora and ATVC – were simultaneously removed from air. All three are engaged in independent journalist activities and regularly broadcast criticism of the local authorities and various State bodies

see also:
• “Removal from air of Kharkiv TV channels more than just business relations”
• EU following struggle for freedom of speech in Kharkiv
• Protests, delegation, letter to the President , yet ATN remains off air
• Kharkiv Mayor awaits unpleasant questions about closure of TV channels
• Young Kharkiv residents demand the return of TV ATN
• OSCE calls on Ukrainian government to allow independent Kharkiv broadcaster back on air
• The Removal from air of three Kharkiv channels damages Ukraine’s reputation
• Kharkiv’s TV ATN files law suit against Sanitary Service
• After Kharkiv’s TV ATN who’s the next target?
• Media Union calls for resumption of broadcasting of blocked Kharkiv TV companies
• On Flagrant Violation of Freedom of Expression in Kharkiv
• ATN to picket the Kharkiv Mayor’s Office after being taken off air
• Kharkiv journalists call for defence of freedom of speech
• On the removal from air of A/TVC
• ATN TV channel accuses Kharkiv Mayor of obstructing its right to broadcast
• Joint statement on threats to media freedom in Ukraine
• ARTICLE 19 Ukraine: How to know who owns your media
• Broadcasters want check of legality of digital frequency tender
• RWB: Digital TV frequency allocation deals blow to media pluralism and independence