News of August 13-18 were analized.

July 2012 monitoring is here.

 

The concealment of certain issues was estimated via comparison of news given by all 8 channels (some channels may speak about them, some may not) and also via comparison with the issues that were highlighted by Interfax-Ukraine and UNIAN newswires. Here is some additional information about the ways of monitoring.

 

1. Materials with signs of being ordered (or censored)

Generally, daily summary newcasts of examined channels this August week had such amount of socio-political materials with the signs of censorship or signs of being ordered:

Table 1. Number of socio-political name="_Hlk280728573">materials with the signs of censorship or signs of being ordered:

Channel	AUGUST 2012	July 2012	June 2012	May 2012	April 2012	March 2012
ICTV	34	39	30	35	35	39
Ukrayina	34	30	25	14	31	37
Channel 1	32	51	31	34	39	43
1+1	26	28	27	16	33	29
Inter	24	38	27	26	26	33
Novy	23	18	7	10	15	12
STB	22	23	15	12	12	12
Channel 5	14	23	17	19	15	26

 

That week the general number of such materials decreased a bit compared with July. It could have something to do with the fact that political life of the country got a little calmer. ICTV and Ukrayina were at the head of the list, due to Channel 1 and Inter giving considerably less materials of such nature. The number of such materials given by Novy channel was growing steadily.

 

TABLE 2. Number of business materials with the signs of being ordered:

Channel	AUGUST 2012	July 2012	June 2012	May 2012	April 2012	March 2012
ICTV	2	1	1	6	2	3
STB	1	1	1	4	0	1
Ukrayina	1	1	0	0	0	3
Channel 1	0	0	0	0	0	1
1+1	0	0	1	0	2	1
Inter	0	0	0	0	0	0
Novy	0	1	1	2	1	1
Channel 5	0	0	0	0	0	0

 

As well as in last two months, that week also gave not much materials of such nature. STB and Ukrayina gave TV spots about Pinchuk's foundation and about Interpipe's owner's business, Ukrayina gave the material about Akhmetov's foundation.

 

Table 3.1. Number of materials with the signs of censorship or signs of being ordered within main lines - positive or neutral, without opinion balance, materials about the GOVERNMENT:

Channel	AUGUST 2012	July 2012	June 2012	May 2012	April 2012	March 2012
Ukrayina	33	28	22	9	30	33
ICTV	30	35	28	31	35	35
Channel 1	27	47	27	30	38	39
1+1	25	27	24	12	31	27
Inter	20	34	25	22	26	32
STB	20	23	15	10	11	11
Novy	18	16	7	9	13	11
Channel 5	13	23	16	16	15	23

Table 3.2. Number of materials with the signs of censorship or signs of being ordered within main lines - negative, without opinion balance, materials about the OPPOSITION:

Channel	AUGUST 2012	July 2012	June 2012	May 2012	April 2012	March 2012
1+1	5	9	3	4	4	6
ICTV	5	6	3	6	6	5
Channel 1	4	6	2	6	10	8
Novy	4	6	2	3	5	4
Channel 5	4	8	3	10	8	5
Ukrayina	4	9	2	5	13	8
Inter	3	8	4	7	9	5
STB	2	7	2	5	3	3

NOTE: general number of materials may not coincide with the general numbers (table 1) as some materials have both lines present.

 

The following standards are violated by the channels in their materials with the signs of censorship or signs of being ordered:

TABLE 4.1. Violation of OPINIONS BALANCE standard:

Channel	AUGUST 2012	July 2012	June 2012	May 2012	April 2012	March 2012
Channel 1	32	51	30	33	38	41
ICTV	30	36	30	33	33	38
Ukrayina	29	28	25	13	27	34
1+1	24	27	26	17	30	26
Inter	23	36	26	25	23	31
STB	22	23	15	11	11	11
Novy	21	17	7	10	13	11
Channel 5	12	23	17	16	14	24

 

TABLE 4.2. Violation of information COMPLETENESS standard:

Channel	AUGUST 2012	July 2012	June 2012	May 2012	April 2012	March 2012
Ukrayina	34	28	25	14	23	36
ICTV	33	39	30	35	29	39
Channel 1	31	50	31	33	39	43
1+1	26	28	27	16	32	29
Inter	24	38	27	25	26	33
Novy	23	17	7	10	13	12
STB	22	23	15	12	12	12
Channel 5	14	23	17	18	13	26

 

TABLE 4.3. Violation of FACTS AND OPINIONS SEPARATION standard:

Channel	AUGUST 2012	July 2012	June 2012	May 2012	April 2012	March 2012
Ukrayina	32	25	25	13	23	30
ICTV	33	37	30	33	29	37
Channel 1	30	47	30	27	30	32
1+1	26	27	26	13	31	22
Inter	23	38	25	20	23	26
Novy	20	17	7	7	13	9
STB	19	23	14	9	12	10
Channel 5	14	19	16	7	13	17

 

TABLE 4.4 Violation of information RELIABILITY standard:

Channel	AUGUST 2012	July 2012	June 2012	May 2012	April 2012	March 2012
1+1	14	13	11	6	13	10
Channel 1	12	17	11	11	19	16
ICTV	12	17	16	15	7	12
Inter	9	14	10	11	8	13
Ukrayina	9	10	8	6	11	11
STB	7	5	5	4	2	2
Novy	6	8	4	3	4	3
Channel 5	6	7	4	5	4	5

 

TABLE 4.5. Violation of information ACCURACY standard:

Channel	AUGUST 2012	July 2012	June 2012	May 2012	April 2012	March 2012
1+1	6	4	3	1	8	2
Ukrayina	5	6	4	4	5	4
Channel 1	4	5	6	4	8	4
Inter	3	2	1	5	1	1
Novy	2	3	0	0	3	0
ICTV	2	4	5	6	4	6
STB	1	4	2	2	1	0
Channel 5	1	3	2	3	5	2

 

General trends were the same concerning standards violation. 

 

The review of main socio-political subjects with the signs of censorship or being ordered that were given by the channels during that week.

 

In course of last several months, supposedly ordered subjects mostly were highlighted in following ways: 

 

 

***

Despite the language issue being undoubtedly important, most channels were very brief in highlighting the information about the adoption of the Russian language as regional one by southern and eastern regional councils. It was exactly the way, ultimately incomplete and unbalanced one, that Channel 1, 1+1, Inter, STB, Novy, ICTV and Ukrayina channels informed about this change in Odesa on Monday, August 13. Though Channel 5 gave a spot about it, only supporters of Russian as regional language, such as Odesa mayor Oleksiy Kostusev and council member Oleksiy Kosmin  were to speak in that piece of news.

 

On August 15 Channel 1 and Ukrayina gave the same unbalanced and brief information about the adoption of the Russian language as regional one in Odesa region. Channel 1, STB, Novy, ICTV, Ukrayina were as well unbalanced and incomplete in highlighting the consideration of the matter in the parliament of Crimea.

 

On August 16 Channel 1, 1+1, Inter, STB, Novy, ICTV, Channel 5 and Ukrayina spoke of the adoption of the Russian language as regional one in Sevastopol, Zaporizhzhzya and Donetsk, as well incompletely and out of balance.

 

On August 17 similar decision of Kherson, Dnipropetrivsk and Luhansk regional councils  was  incompletely and out of balance highlighted by 1+1, Inter, STB, Novy, ICTV and Ukrayina. Channel 1 ignored these events completely.

 

Thus, the audience of the major channels could not have the proper impression about the most important events of the week.

 

***

 All the channels, without exceptions, were superficial in highlighting the processing of Tymoshenko's cassation appeal concerning the sentence in the "gas case", and did not give the essence of the cassation arguments.

 

Highlighting another trial that sentenced Lutsenko in the case of ex-head of the Security Service of Ukraine's driver's surveillance, the channels choose purely emotional words even when the floor is given to the convicted or his defense. The essence of the case and the arguments of the defense were mentioned only in the materials of Novy, Channel 5 and Ukrayina channels, though still inadequately. Other channels did not even mention that, first, it had been the court and not Lutsenko himself that had decided on the surveillance, second, Satsuk's driver did not see himself as the victim, and third, that almost all witnesses of the prosecution stated that Lutsenko's actions had not been criminal. The materials contained the conclusions of journalists, for example: "The most important part of the court judgement is the fact that Yuriy Lutsenko now is convicted twice" (Inter). "The second sentence does not change anything for Lutsenko, as the matter of fact" (Ukrayina). Sometimes journalists gave some personal statements as universal truth. "There is no need to keep Lutsenko in pre-trial detention centre" Channel 1 stated. Actually, it was the opinion of the prosecutor Klymenko whom the journalists did not mention.

 

Another judicial issue, the appeal verdict in Ivashchenko's case, Channel 1, 1+1, Novy and Ukrayina were biased in giving information, trusting the statement of the General Prosecutor's representative that Ivashchenk0 had allegedly partially recognized his guilt, or even giving these words exactly in journalists texts.

 

 

***

 

Finally, the third kind of supposedly ordered materials that week was dedicated to Viktor Yanukovych

 

On August 13, Channel 1, 1+1, Inter, STB and Ukrayina told about the participation of the president in the funeral of the Yenakiyevo mayor.

 

On August 14, Channel 1, Inter, STB, Novy, ICTV, Channel 5 and Ukrayina told about the president's visit to Sevastopol.

 

On August 15, STB and Ukrayina told about the president's visit to Artek.

 

On August 16, Channel 1, 1+1, Inter, STB, Novy, ICTV and Ukrayina highlighted the ceremony of Yanukovych giving awards to the Olympians.

 

Everyday all the channels gave similar materials about the Prime Minister Azarov.

 

On August 13 - Azarov and Olympians, Azarov and economists;

 

On August 14 - Azarov went to Odesa and visited the port;

 

On August 15 - Azarov spoke of education at the Cabinet of Ministers meeting; Azarov spoke of fire water ponds; Azarov again spoke of Olympians;

 

On August 16 - Azarov visited Sorochynskyi fair (and the fair itself was not highlighted by most channels);

 

On August 17 - Azarov met Olympians again.

 

The same way, though not every day, the channels highlight movements and statements of Vice Prime Minister Serhiy Tyhypko, Education Minister Dmytro Tabachnyk, certain messages of the President Administration, delivered by the first deputy of its head Iryna Akimova, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Boyko, General Prosecutor Viktor Pshonka and other members of the current government.

 

 Most of such materials are not of value for the news image of the day. Even when some statements are important, like Azarov saying that Ukraine does not buy Hyundai trains anymore, they should be supported with the complete facts and backgrounds, as well as opinions balance, not to mention expert evaluations. The channels do not do that.

 

 However, in August similar invalids materials appeared about such formal opposition members as Nataliya Korolevska and the members of Communist Party of Ukraine.

 

On August 15, Inter, STB, Novy, ICTV and Ukrayina told about Korolevska and Shevchenko visiting Sorochynskyi fair. On August 16, Channel 1 about Korolevska visiting Poltava region. On August 17, Channel 1, Inter, STB, Novy, ICTV and Ukrayina highlighted  the presentation of the book, written by Korolevska.

 

 On August 13, Channel 1, 1+1, Novy and Channel 5 gave floor to Iryna Spirina from the top five of the Communists electoral list, as to the medical expert.

 

On August 14, Inter and Novy told about the Communist leader Petro Symonenko visiting Kirovohrad.

 

On August 17 Inter and ICTV told about Symonenko's visit to Zaporizhzhya. On August 18 Channel 1 also told about it.

 

2. Concealment of socially important information by the channels in August.

 

In realization of political orders, concealment of certain subjects or their components (such as positions and argumentation of parties, expert evaluations, exact facts and backgrounds), that being disclosed, would be unfavourable for the government, still plays very important role. (The numbers are given for August 13-19, July 2-8, June 4-10, May 14-20, April 9-14, March 12-17)

 

TABLE 5. General number of concealments of important subjects, opinions, facts or backgrounds:

Channel	AUGUST 2012	July 2012	June 2012	May 2012	April 2012	March 2012
Channel 1	97	213	121	136	130	111
ICTV	92	206	120	134	122	107
STB	90	188	120	131	120	99
Ukrayina	89	191	113	123	116	97
Inter	88	197	121	131	126	106
Novy	88	191	119	129	123	106
Channel 5	82	177	104	121	114	102
1+1	76	184	114	122	101	100

 

General number of concealed issues was considerably less that week, probably because of less active political life in holiday time.

 

TABLE 6. Number of concealments of information about protest actions of different political forces and separate social groups, about court orders against those actions and about law enforcement bodies activity on blocking of these actions and their participants arrest:

Channel	AUGUST 2012	July 2012	June 2012	May 2012	April 2012	March 2012
Channel 1	16	63	27	14	22	13
ICTV	16	60	26	16	20	12
STB	15	50	25	14	17	12
Inter	14	55	24	13	17	13
Novy	13	52	26	14	18	11
Ukrayina	13	52	19	12	18	10
Channel 5	12	47	17	13	18	8
1+1	11	49	25	13	16	11

 

 

All the channels were silent about such events of this field:

 

The opposition members passed 365 roses to Tymoshenko at hospital to commemorate the anniversary of her arrest (August 5)

There were stickers with Tymoshenko's image all over Kyiv (August 5)

Kyiv opposition members put the banner across Dnipro saying "Free Yulia" (August 5)

District administration in Sevastopol prohibited the Ukraine Against Yanukovych meeting through court of appeal action (August 7)

In Lviv Strike Committee was gathered because of the law on languages (August 8)

In Kharkiv the court banned perpetual action against the law on languages (August 9)
Police blocked 50 buses of transportation organization that intended to picket Kyiv Regional State Administration (August 10)

The residents of Makariv town of Kyiv region launched perpetual protest action as numerous appeals to the top officials concerning the closure of a harmful production gave no result (August 10)

Former workers of Mykolaiv Meridian shipyard demanded to pay off the salary debts (August 10)

In Kharkiv so called "language Maydan" was banned from the place by the monument to Shevchenko (August 11)

Kharkiv "language Maydan" came to a new place (August 13)

Kharkiv "language Maydan" was back to the monument to Shevchenko (August 14)

Batkivshchyna supporters rallied by the Supreme Administrative Court that tries the claim about Tymoshenko and Lutsenko not being registered (August 15)

Kharkiv "language Maydan" moved again because of judicial restraint (August 16)

Donetsk Regional Council witnessed the fight between the representatives of the opposition and the guards (August 16)

Kharkiv plant named after Shevchenko workers rallied demanding to pay off the salary debts (August 21)

Kharkiv "language Maydan" continued (August 22)

The veterans of OUN-UPA led the demonstration in defense of the Ukrainian language in Ivano-Frankivsk (August 24)

In Kharkiv the workers of coal plant had a rally against the closure of the plant (August 24)

 

TABLE 7. Number of concealments concerning government's attacks on the freedom of speech:

Channel	AUGUST 2012	July 2012	June 2012	May 2012	April 2012	March 2012
Channel 1	3	6	6	3	7	4
1+1	3	6	7	3	6	4
Inter	3	6	6	3	8	4
STB	3	6	7	3	6	3
Novy	3	6	7	3	6	3
ICTV	3	6	7	3	6	4
Channel 5	3	6	5	2	5	3
Ukrayina	3	6	7	3	7	4

 

Not any channel highlighted the following in their newscasts:

 

The relatives of the deceased journalist Klyment'yev do not believe that law enforcement bodies will find those who ordered his murder (August 2)

The parliament relevant committee urged the Regions Party to expel the candidate whose bodyguards had beaten journalist Nayem out of the list (August 2)

In Kharkiv the journalist of Road Control was threatened with death and had his camera smashed (August 2)

Journalist Nayem told the last name of the deputy whose bodyguards had beaten him (August 2)

Public deputy Stets urged the Regions Party to declare the name of the deputy whose bodyguards had beaten journalist (August 2)

Reporters Without Borders told that the bill that envisaged criminal liability for defamation and was introduced by Zhuravskyi from the Regions Party was oppressive (August 2)

In Kyiv the restaurant manager beat TVi journalists for shooting his illegal operations (August 3)

Ukrainian journalist going to Solovets to commemorate the anniversary of Ukrainian intellectuals execution was not let to Russian Federation (August 3)

In Donetsk several criminal cases under false pretenses were initiated against the opposition candidate (August 3)

Public deputy Moskal asked General Prosecutor's Office to prosecute those who had released out of pre-trial detention a suspect in the murder of journalist Klyment'yev and later hired him to work in the police (August 3)

Nova Odesa opposition channel claimed pressure, threats and illegal broadcasting termination (August 8)

The parliament relevant committee would consider the case of Nova Odesa opposition channel closure (August 9)

Journalist Nayem who had been beaten by the bodyguards of the Regions Party deputy was refused to initiate criminal case (August 10)

A Russian channel was broadcasted in Donetsk instead of TVi (August 13)

Yenakieve was cordoned off by the police, journalists were not allowed to shoot the mayor's funeral (August 13)

TVi accused National Council of termination of the channel's broadcast in Donetsk and Mariupol (August 14)

TVi claimed that government still exerted pressure on the channel through taxation and pressed providers (August 20)

The parliament relevant committee claimed that TVi broadcasting termination might question the legitimacy of elections (August 22)

TVi urged law enforcement bodies to pay attention to the Triolan activity (August 22)

Knyazhytskyi said that TVi would be closed if the tax administration happened to win the case (August 23)

Brovary law enforcement bodies initiated the criminal case against the journalist who made the material about the abuse of local chief of the Regions Party (August 28)

The head of the company Avakova agreed that the law enforcement bodies took the servers of Glavnoe periodical (August 29)

 

 

 TABLE 8. Number of concealments of information about decrease of different components of welfare of population or its separate groups

Channel	AUGUST 2012	July 2012	June 2012	May 2012	April 2012	March 2012
Channel 1	14	11	25	18	25	16
ICTV	14	11	21	18	24	16
Ukrayina	13	12	19	17	20	15
Inter	12	11	21	17	21	12
Channel 5	12	11	21	16	23	12
STB	11	10	21	17	22	13
Novy	11	11	20	16	22	15
1+1	9	10	17	12	16	13

 

All the channels concealed the following materials:

 

In Donetsk water with worms was running from the taps (August 1)

This year it would be 20% more expensive to prepare all necessary things for school (August 2)

The Ministry of Health gave only 75% of costs necessary for the purchase of vaccines (August 2)

The nurses lost payments for health promotion because of the new decision of the Cabinet of Ministers (August 3)

The united opposition demanded the government to cancel immediately the act that reduced scholarships for students (August 8)

Sushkevych public deputy claimed that financing of disabled social protection got substantially worse (August 15)

GfK Ukraine research showed that Consumer Confidence Index in Ukraine was continuing to decrease (August 16)

Experts at the round table agreed that gas price for the people would increase after the elections (August 22)

Institute of Demography claimed that the rich in Ukraine had the largest social benefits as the poor had the smallest ones (August 24)

KIIS research showed that not more than 5% of Ukrainian population live at the level of European middle class (August 24)

Tabachnyk offered to legalize school exactions, giving parent committees legal right to collect money from the parents (August 29)

 

TABLE 9. Number of concealments of information about governmental attacks on the businesses or governmentally supported corporate raiding:

 

Channel	AUGUST 2012	July 2012	June 2012	May 2012	April 2012	March 2012
Channel 1	4	2	4	7	1	1
Inter	4	2	4	6	1	1
STB	4	2	3	6	1	1
Novy	4	2	4	7	1	1
ICTV	4	2	3	7	1	1
Channel 5	4	2	4	7	0	1
Ukrayina	4	2	4	7	1	1
1+1	3	2	3	7	1	1

 

Not any channel highlighted the following issued:

 

Ukrpyvo industry organization predicted considerable losses for brewers and other manufacturers because of the law on languages (August 2)

In the Odesa region a businessman was threatened with death and had his stall torn to pieces because he opposed the Regions Party (August 4)

European Business Association was critical of the Ukrainian government intention to introduce turnover tax for enterprises (August 7)

The owner of the "cat billboard" said that she covered it because of obscenities (August 19)

The owner said that the police did not launch criminal investigation of the "cat billboards" dismantling  in Dniprodzerzhynsk (August 21)

Avakov said that his Basis bank was being robbed by Kharkiv governor Dobkin with the help of Authority for Combatting Economic Crimes (28 August)

NBU liquidated the bank, founded by Avakov (28 August)

Kyiv businessman, deprived of his business by the government asked for political asylum in the U.S. because of threats (28 August)

The corporate raid of parking lot took place in Kyiv (28 August)

Tax administration won 9 court cases out of 10, the businessmen were defeated (28 August) 

The American company being the co-owner of the Sky Mall shopping mall in Kyiv claimed the corporate raid of the office  (29 August)

Avakov's company head said that search and withdrawals in the Investor were connected with the political activities of the owner (August 29)

Avakov's company head said that searches in the Investor were done with the legislation violations - (August 29)

 

 

TABLE 10. Number of concealments of information concerning the opposition's public statements and activity:

Channel	AUGUST 2012	July 2012	June 2012	May 2012	April 2012	March 2012
Channel 1	34	80	42	47	51	38
STB	33	74	42	42	52	35
Inter	31	75	42	43	54	39
Novy	30	69	41	39	52	36
Ukrayina	30	69	40	40	48	33
ICTV	29	79	39	44	51	35
1+1	27	72	40	45	48	38
Channel 5	27	63	35	38	47	34

 

Not any channel mentioned such statements and actions of the opposition:

 

Klitschko said, "We will leave only 7 all state taxes and perform anti-corruption authorities lustration" (August 1)

Klitschko Party was supported by the Ukrainian Union of Afghan War Veterans and the Party of Afghan War Veterans (August 1)

Opposition claimed that more than 150,000 Ukrainians had already signed the court action against Yanukovych (August 1)

Vlasenko said, "Tymoshenko has not seen the final version of the electoral list" (August 1)

Vlasenko said, "Tymoshenko will remark upon the list of the united opposition, if she considers it necessary" (August 2)

Lutsenko was glad that there were no oligarchs in the lists of opposition (August 2)

Tymoshenko wrote to ombudsman Lutkovska tha t she did not want to see her (August 2)

Yatsenyuk said that the European Court decision made it possible for Tymoshenko and Lutsenko to participate in elections (August 3)

Hrytsenko said that the candidates from the united opposition would swear not to cooperate with the Regions Party (August 3)

Turchynov said that the Central Electoral Committee had no grounds to refuse the registration of the candidates from the united opposition (August 3)

The opposition claimed that Kyiv government let the Regions Party 4 premises for 1 hryvnia per year (August 3)

Vlasenko said, "Splashing brilliant green solution to the faces of lawyer and MP is not vandalism" (August 3)

The uited opposition candidates for people's deputies took the oath in Kyiv (August 5)

The opposition made the camp, opened the exhibition of Tymoshenko's pictures and released 365 pigeons by the Pechersk court on Khreschatyk street (August 5)

Tomenko hoped that in September the deputies would adopt his resignation (August 6)

Vlasenko said, "Brodsky, the owner of the Obozrevatel website, received one million dollars from Yanukovych for publishing lies about Tymoshenko" (August 6)

Tomenko appealed to the Minister of Internal Affairs asking to find killers of ecologist Goncharenko, who had been threatened because of his public activities before his death (August 7)

The united opposition would block the law on languages on local councils (August 8)

UDAR claimed that Yanukovych was on track to split the country (August 8)

Opposition promised to cancel the law on languages and prosecute Yanukovych and Lytvyn (August 8)

Batkivshchyna asked the international community for help in assuring Tymoshenko and Lutsenko participation in the elections (August 8)

Batkivshchyna claimed, "The government is preparing several "clones" of candidate Teryokhin" (August 8)

Vlasenko said, "Tymoshenko's former cellmate is hidden from the relatives" (August 8)

Tymoshenko demanded the General Prosecutor to explain the situation with her probable discharge from hospital (August 8)

The garage of the opposition youth's leader in Izmayil was burned (August 8)

The Catholic Church awarded Tymoshenko with prize named after Pope Boniface VIII (August 9)

Tomenko said that special elections on September 9 in a number of Ukrainian cities would be the test for parliamentary elections (August 9)

Vlasenko said, "Firtash is hiding from getting summons to U.S. court because of Tymoshenko's suit" (August 10)

Vlasenko said, "Tymoshenko's request to meet Teixeira does not contradict the recommendations of the German doctors" (August 10)

Lutsenko said, "Let flawed democracy win the elections, but not perfect mafia" (August 10)

Lutsenko said during the debate, "I had no right not to sign the decree, it was also signed by the Deputy General Prosecutor, and the court gave permission to audio interception" (August 10)

BYuT ​​demanded to convoke special session of Kyiv Council to condemn law on languages and initiate Yanukovych's impeachment (August 10)

Public deputy Sobolev advised Azarov and Mohyliov to master Ukrainian and the language of Crimean Tatars for more scrupulous implementation of the law on languages (August 10)

The opposition intended to keep only 7 taxes (11 August)

The opposition appealed the court decision, affirming the refusal to register Tymoshenko and Lutsenko as the candidates (13 August)

The united opposition declared that some false interviews of one of their leaders appeared in the media (August 13)

Melitopol authorities refused Hrytsenko to have meetings with voters (13 August)

UDAR launched the website with information about majoritarian candidates (August 13)

Opposition in the Odesa region demanded to withdraw a regional majoritarian, who had not lived in Ukraine for 13 years from the elections (August 13)

Public deputy Palytsya said, "The governor of Volyn demanded me to provide money for elections for the Regions Party" (August 13)

Lutsenko attorneys filed an appeal against the sentence of ex-minister (August 14)

Vlasenko said that he was not let to visit Tymoshenko again (14 August)

In Dniprodzerzhinsk somebody dismantled 15 billboards of opposition council deputy (15 August)

Lutsenko believed that Yushchenko was going to steal the opposition votes at the elections (15 August)

Lutsenko said, "Despite being not in the best of my shape, I am full of optimism and plans for the future" (16 August)

Batkivshchyna claimed, "Sentencing Lutsenko again showed the selective nature of justice in Ukraine"  (August 17)

Tymoshenko asked the EU law enforcement bodies to investigate corruption activity  of the current leaders of Ukraine (August 17)

Public deputy Tretyakov said, "The authorities fear the posiibility of new Maydan the most"
 (August 17)

Turchynov said, "Law enforcement bodies now illegally wiretap the opposition leaders" (17 August)

Joint study of four social services showed that more people were ready to vote for the united opposition than for the Regions Party (17 August)

UDAR claimed that the information about the possible dismissal of the CEC members was an attempt to put pressure on them (20 August)

Vlasenko said that "legal soccer" over appeal in the "gas case" of Tymoshenko would not affect the hearing of case in the European Court - (August 20)

Vlasenko said that any solution other than cancelling the sentence of Tymoshenko, would be illegal (20 August)

Turchynov said that the opposition would probably clear  their ranks in September (August 20)

Yatsenyuk considered undemocratic the sentence got by the members of Pussy Riot (August 20)

Yatsenyuk said, "Discussions on this list was over at the moment it was voted for" (20 August)

One of the Tymoshenko supporters would have legal proceedings with the CEC because they refused to register him as a candidate for people's deputy (20 August)

Lutsenko considers his getting away from politics while being the Minister his biggest mistake (August 21)

Opposition leaders believde that Tymoshenko would be released only after the change of government (August 21)

Yatseniuk said that according to the words of prosecutors in court, Tymoshenko had not done ​​any crime (August 21)

Lutsenko refused to have express test in Kyiv hospital and appointed doctors the meeting at the European Court (August 22)

Kozhemyakin discussed elections with Tymoshenko, but nothing was sold about the new opposition congress (22 August)

The opposition offered to give the right to supply the population with gas to state enterprises and give it the balance of distribution networks (22 August)

The opposition appealed to the General Prosecutor's Office demanding the investigation of the gas distribution networks getting to some private hands (22 August)

The united opposition demanded the General Prosecutor's Office to suspend the Cabinet resolution on the transfer of gas distribution systems to the regional and local gas organizations (22 August)

UDAR claimed threats and pressure on its members in the Kyiv region (22 August)

Yatsenyuk said that the united opposition would not allow to dismiss the opposition members of the CEC (22 August)

UDAR candidate would walk from Poltava to Kyiv in order to give Yanukovych food set, similar to those that Regions Party deputies give to voters (August 22)

Yatsenyuk demanded Pshonka to prevent closing of Ukrainian classes in Donetsk (22 August)

Karmazin would bring the action to the European Court for refusing to register him as a candidate for deputy (August 23)

The opposition candidate for MP in Carpathian region claimed that fake leaflets were spread against him (August 23)

In Kremenchug the billboards of UDAR candidate were damaged (August 23)

UDAR faction in the Kyiv Council said that Kyiv should remain a stronghold of preservation of Ukrainian as the sole state language (August 23)

Svoboda and UDAR parties considered unfair the lottery, which denied their representatives in district committees (August 24)

CEC rejected the complaint of opposition concerning the Regions Party banners on governmental buildings (August 24)

Vlasenko said that European Court decision on "gas case" could be the reason for Tymoshenko's release (August 29)

Turchynov said that making decision on Tymoshenko's appeal was delayed on purpose until the European Court considered a complaint against illegal arrest (August 29)

Turchynov expected fair decision in Tymoshenko's case to be made by the European Court till the new year (August 29)

Tymoshenko's defense intended to challenge in the European Court the sentence on the "gas case" as well (August 29)

Vlasenko said, "This resolution of the superior specialized court finished the formation of a totalitarian state in Ukraine" (29 August)

The united opposition stated that after the change of government everybody involved in the falsification of "gas case" would be  prosecuted (August 29)

Hrytsenko said, "Yanukovych is afraid of losing his power more than of the threat of international isolation for Ukraine" (August 29)

Public deputy Moskal introduced the bill that offered to make the Hutsul language the regional one (August 29)

Danylyshyn intended to participate in the presidential elections in Ukraine (August 29)

 

 TABLE 11. Number of concealments of information concerning disputed situations provoked by the government in humanitarian area:

 

Channel	AUGUST 2012	July 2012	June 2012	May 2012	April 2012	March 2012
Channel 1	24	95	24	9	10	12
ICTV	23	80	25	12	10	11
Inter	22	74	23	12	9	12
Novy	22	71	25	12	9	12
STB	21	69	24	11	8	12
Ukrayina	21	73	23	10	9	10
1+1	20	69	23	9	9	11
Channel 5	20	67	21	9	8	10

 

All the channels were silent about the following issues:

 

Kravchuk said, "We can not allow the expansion of the Russian language at the expense of Ukrainian" (August 1)

Poroshenko said, "Law on languages will have negative consequences" (August 1)

BYuT sued Martyniuk and Litvin for violating the regulations while adopting the law on languages (August 1)

Lviv regional council appeal to the people claimed that the law on languages incited ethnic strife in Ukraine (August 2)

National Commission for the Protection of Public Morality urged Yanukovych not to sign the law on languages (August 2)

The photobook about the First Ukrainian Division "Galicia" was presented in Ivano-Frankivsk (August 6)

In Odesa the most of parents chose the Ukrainian language for the education of their children (August 9)

Human right activist from Dniprodzerzhinsk filed a lawsuit against Yanukovych and Lytvyn for the law on languages (August 10)

Museum of Tripoli culture was again captured by the raiders (August 13)

NGOs of Crimea need demanded to make the Ukrainian language regional along with Russian and Tatar (August 14)

National Council would cancel the language point in the broadcasting licenses (15 August)

Lviv stopped publishing books in Ukrainian (16 August)

Ternopil City Council urged not follow the law on languages as it would lead to disaster (August 17)

In Odessa, parents of school children were forced to write the applications for the Russian language of education instead of Ukrainian (17 August)

The National TV Council informed that language point was excluded from broadcasting licenses (20 August)

Head of the UGCC claimed that the russification of Ukraine would be unstoppable without the dialogue with the Moscow Patriarchate (August 20)

Kiyiv residents addressed Kyiv State Administration demanding to preserve artists' studios on Andriyivskyi Uzviz (August 20)

Matios  said that the new Parliament would definitely need to revise the language issue (August 21)

Parents of schoolchildren are afraid that the only Ukrainian 10th grade in Donetsk high school would be closed (21 August)

In Izmayil Bulgarians would demand to give regional status to their language via court (22 August)

NGOs claimed that the new educational year would be characterized by the forced implementation of the law on languages at schools (28 August)

Book Chamber informed that during the year in Ukraine the printing of books in Russian increased by 75.8%, in Ukrainian - at 28.6% (August 29)

 

 

TABLE 12. Number of concealments of information concerning conflicts, provoked by law enforcement bodies activity against, as well as prosecution and abusive treatment of opposition members and non-criminal individuals:

Channel	AUGUST 2012	July 2012	June 2012	May 2012	April 2012	March 2012
Channel 1	21	25	17	27	41	13
STB	20	21	14	25	38	13
Inter	19	21	15	25	42	13
Ukrayina	19	17	15	23	41	10
Novy	18	20	15	23	40	14
ICTV	18	26	15	25	39	14
1+1	17	19	14	24	35	12
Channel 5	17	18	12	22	34	11

 

All the channels concealed such information:

 

Court of Appeal changed the arrest of an activist from the Ukrainian House for the recognizance not to leave (August 2)

Vlasenko said, "Tymoshenko flatly refused again to participate in the hearings via video conference" (August 2)

In Mykolayiv the police were catching the activists who posted leaflets against the Regions (August 2)

Batkivshchyna claimed that one of its activists was arrested in Mykolayiv (August 2)

In Kharkiv, the detained jumped out of the 4^th floor window of the police department (August 3)

In Sevastopol, the police arrested five activists who posted leaflets against the Regions Party (August 3)

In Sevastopol, the government prohibited the opposition to put information tents (August 3)

In Kirovohrad region policemen beat a man and took him to the forest (August 3)

Svoboda claimed that their activist Vasyl Udod died after he had been beaten by unknown at the time, when he had been to give to the General Prosecutor materials about drug trafficking in Sumy region (August 6)

There were witnesses to the Vasyl Udod being beaten; he was found dead in Konotop and according to law enforcement officials, died of pancreatitis (August 6)

Court fined the activists because of campaigning against the Regions Party in Simferopol (August 6)

USS insisted on reexamination of the deputy Sokolov from BYuT in the case of "Dnipropetrovsk terrorists" (August 8)

The refugee was beaten in Lukyanivskyi pre-trial detention center (August 8)

Odesa region prosecutors instituted criminal proceedings against the police officers who had beaten homeless to death (August 9)

The Cabinet of Ministers increased the staff of the Division of Enforcement of the State Executive Service (August 9)

After the new Criminal Procedure Code came into force, the police would need more than 5,000 new investigators (August 10)

Police arrested the leader of the drivers and transport operators protest in Kyiv region (11 August)

Tymoshenko's lawyer suggested that video conference in court was possible only by force (August 13)

Ukrainian lawyers point to the illegality of the use of video mode in the Tymoshenko case (August 13)

Lawyer said that video conference without Tymoshenko's the consent would be the reason to turn to European court (August 13)

Ivashchenko was convinced that the judges deliberately falsified his sentence (14 August)

Vlasenko said that doctors' recommendations about 8 weeks of rest for Tymoshenko were not taken into consideration (August 14)

Author of "Old woman and a cat" opposition billboard was wanted, the owner of billboards was in the intensive care after communicating with the authorities representatives (15 August)

A man commited suicide in the Odesa prison (16 August)

Jailers admitted to beating prisoners in the Kopychintsi colony (16 August)

In Crimea two policemen were arrested who "knocked out" the confessions of detained (August 17)

The author "Old woman and a cat" opposition billboard stated that he was persecuted (17 August)

Police purchased 1,000 barrier turnstiles for 3.5 million hryvmias (20 August)

Donetsk police lieutenant was given 5 years in prison for the torture of suspects (August 21)

In Chernivtsi two police captains were sentenced to 5 years for physical and psychological violence to witnesses (22 August)

Donetsk OCD arrested the head of the district headquarters of the Klitschko party in Luhansk region (29 August)

 

Other notable subjects concealed by all the channels in August:

The state budget for the first 7 months of the year had deficit of 6.7 billion UAH (1 August)

EPP President Martens supported Klitschko's party (August 1)

American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine was concerned about the possible negative consequences of the introduction of 2-5% turnover tax (August 1)

In Illichivsk son of Deputy Mayor beat a girl brutally (August 1)

Writer Matios said. "Ukraine needs new political elite in order not to look like underdeveloped tribe in the jungle" (August 1)

U.S. State Department pointed at problems existing in Ukraine with freedom of religion, including the oppression of certain Christian and Crimean Tatar denominations (August 1)

Yanukovych signed the law allowing the purchase for state companies without tender (August 1)

The company of Firtash gained control over Mykolayivgaz (August 1)

Deputy Kolesnichenko from Regions Party was caught lying as he claimed that his father hadbburned in a tank during the Second World War, although Kolesnichenko was born 13 years after the war (August 1)

Political scientist Haran said that Korolevska would not publish the lists because they were not agreed with Bankova yet (August 2)

Danylyshyn said, "The things I am persecuted for in Ukraine have been legal for the government for a long time" (August 2) 

The fourth branch of the Kyiv subway would be constructed by a Russian company (August 2)

Stoyan from the Regions Party acknowledged that voted for party members in the Council (2 August)

In Poltava region policeman was sentenced up to 5 years in prison for bribery (August 3)

The losses of Ukroboronprom in the first quarter of this year got close to 166 million UAH (August 4)

Political scientist Haran said that Regions Party paid Lytvyn for his assistance with places for his party in the regional list (August 4)

In Odesa self-nominated Region Party members were promised to be expelled from the party (August 6)

Socialist International urged the government of Ukraine to free Tymoshenko before elections (August 6)

Azarov said, "Only Yanukovych, Lytvyn and I have the right to travel on the roads with benefits" (August 6)

Melnychenko's defense claimed, "He would not come to Ukraine alive in case of extradition, it is too dangerous for the Ukrainian authorities" (August 6)

Committee of Voters of Ukraine would put up no less than 3000 observers (August 7)

Lawyer said that Melnychenko was lured to Italy by deception (August 7)

In Trostyanets of Sumy region town council stopped working as the District Council in its decision took all its money (August 7)

In Symferopol  the memorial to the victims of Crimean Tatars deportation was desecrated(August 8)

In Dnipropetrivsk state employees were forced to participate in the rally in support of the law on languages (August 8)

Governor of Bukovina campaigned for the candidate of the Regions Party by hinting that he may leave people without gas (August 8)

CEC member Zhydenko said that sentences for Tymoshenko and Lutsenko were not legal (August 8)

The car being pursued by inspectors crashed, two people were dead, three were injured (August 8)

Brussels believed that the law on languages must be adopted by the wide consensus(August 9)

Brussels was disappointed by the claims of Ukrainian authorities on new charges against Tymoshenko (August 9)

Brussels urged Ukrainian authorities to respect the rule of law in question of taking Tymoshenko and Lutsenko out of electoral lists (August 9)

Ukrainians from Czech Republic urged compatriots in different countries to unite in defense of the Ukrainian language (August 9)

Mayor of Cherkasy claimed local police being inert and not protecting law and order and security of citizens (August 9)

Tymoshenko's husband did not deny the possibility of the "government in exile" (August 9)

In Khmelnytskyi somebody damaged opposition billboards (August 9)

Yanukovych was called to include not only supporters but also the opponents of the law on languages to the working group on language problems (August 10)

Judges of Odesa region accused regional state administration in exerting pressure on the courts (August 10)

EPP President condemned the CEC decision not to register Tymoshenko and Lutsenko (August 10)

Melnychenko's lawyer was convinced that ex-Major would soon be released from custody (August 10)

Sobor party claimed that adoption of the law on languages amounts to discrimination of Ukrainians (August 10)

Dzhemilyov said, "Symonenko should be judged for the call to change the state symbols" (August 11)

In Khmelnytsky region state employees are planned to be taken to the Regions Party rally from all over the region (August 11)

Defendant Pavlenov said, "Sentencing me and Lutsenko would show that one  can not honestly investigate crimes in this country" (August 11)

Committee of Voters of Ukraine declared the dominance of "clones" on lists (August 13)

Information about the Regions Party on the Kharkiv city council website did not violate the law, according to the regional administration (13 August)

The route Donetsk - Yenakieve was completely emptied by the law enforcement bodies for the Yanukovych cortege (August 13)

Consensus forecast stated that the experts estimated downgraded Ukraine's GDP growth (August 13)

State Statistics Committee stated that in June trade balance in Ukraine worsened by 2.4 times (August 13)

U.S. may impose tough sanctions on Ukraine in case of further deterioration of democracy (August 13)

The European Union expressed concern about the new law on public procurement in Ukraine, which puts most of the public procurement out of the control (August 14)

Geologists stated that pile building and underground parking lots, built on Andriyivskyi Uzviz would lead to the destruction of the whole street (August 14)

Centenary trees were destroyed near Hostomel during construction (August 14)

The European Commission is concerned by the refusal to register Tymoshenko and Lutsenko as the candidates (August 14)

Transparency International representative resigned from the Anti-Corruption Committee under the President to declare protest against the new law on public procurement (August 15)

In Artemivsk cheap TV tuners were distributed on behalf of Klyuyev's brother (August 15)

Volyn governor puts drainage system to his dacha by cost of public funds (August 15)

The decline in industrial production in July was 0.9% (August 16)

In Dniprodzerzhinsk another 15 billboards advertising opposition were dismantled (August 16)

In Donetsk state employees were forced to participate at a rally in support of law on languages (August 16)

Baloha said, "What they did to Lutsenko was unacceptable for a democratic country" (August17)

The U.S. government expressed disappointment with Lutsenko sentence (August 17)

Ivano-Frankivsk region would increase the monthly allowance to retired UPA veterans by 500 UAH  (August 17)

In Lugansk the Regions Party advertisement was placed on buses, despite the fact that it was directly prohibited by law (August 17)

MEPs considered government elections without Tymoshenko and Lutsenko to be shame for Ukraine (August 18)

U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine said, "Lutsenko was made guilty before the hearings" (August 19)

European Court recommended Ukraine not to extradite a Russian suspect in the assassination attempt on Putin (August 20)

Ministry of Economic Development claimed that he level of shadow economy grew last year (August20)

The deputy head of the CEC Mahera would appeal to the European Court in the case of his dismissal (August 21)

Cherkassy water service company was disconnected from the power supply because of debt, which was formed through underpayment of budget subsidies (August 21)

MEP Harms favored the increased pressure on the Ukrainian authorities (August 21)

MEP Brock said, "The elections in Ukraine can be considered undemocratic, because they ejected opposition leaders" (August 21)

Spilna Sprava movement claimed that in the Kharkiv, Crimea, Odessa regions there were Regions Party banners on the governmental buildings (August 21)

Tyhypko's wife retroactively got 2 more million UAH from the budget for her Film Festival (August 22)

Because of Yanukovych visit to Kharkiv the departure of Metalist football team for the match of UEFA Europa League was delayed for two hours (August22)

pThe Ministry of Finance stated that Public debt of Ukraine in July increased again  (August 23)

Canada called on Ukrainian authorities to release Tymoshenko and Lutsenko (August 23)

Spilna Sprava said, "The candidates of officials are not going to leave and use of public resources for campaign" (August 23)

Spilna Sprava said, "CEC selectively denied "double"-candidates in favor of candidates from the ruling party (August 23)

Poll of Razumkov Center and DIF stated that Yanukovich's rating fall level for two years became equal to the Yushchenko's rating fall level (August 23)

Danylyshyn said, "No matter how does the Azarov's government count GDP, it still falls" (August 23)

In Zhytomyr region the group of activists were beaten for distributing leaflets against Lytvyn (August25)

Opora claimed, "The highest representation in the district election commissions had the outsiders of elections" (August 25)

Chesno movement would appreciate decency of about 2500 candidates for people's deputies (August28)

In Kremenchuck 80-year-old man was appointed the head of district committee without his consent, so he resigned (August 28)

Deputy Chairman of the CEC Mahera said, "The election commissions formed by the representatives of political forces are very unskilled" (28 August)

British Foreign Ministry was deeply disappointed by the decision in Tymoshenko's appeal case (August 29)

Committee of Voters of Ukraine stated that formed CEC county commissions are incompetent (August 29)

Committee of Voters of Ukraine stated that "clone" technology could be used to falsify the votes count (August 29)

The instructions of the Regions Party to the members of election commissions were published, clearly describing the options of fraud (August29)

Ukrainian Law Society required Yanukovych to deal with the CEC, which selectively refused to register opposition majoritarians (August 29)

 

 Monitoring of keeping to the professional standards in the work of Ukrainian channels information services is provided by NGO Telekrytyka supported by USAID through Internews Network. The purpose of monitoring is to increase media literacy of the Ukrainian society, to encourage media tojbe responsible, keep to journalistic standards and improve the quality of media products.

 

The object of monitoring are socio-political issues in the evening (main) newscasts on Inter, ICTV, 1 +1, STB, Novy, Channel 1, Channel 5 and  Ukrayina. Period of monitoring: August 13-18.

 

Monitoring gives an independent expert evaluation of the NGO Telekrytyka/ All conclusions and opinions expressed in all publications may not reflect the views of USAID or the Internews Network. Monitoring methodology is described here. You may read the project materials in the Monitoring section of MediaSapiens website. In 2012, the methodology has changed and now the monitoring is carried out within one week of each month.

 

Note: August stays for 13 to 18 August, July - 2 to 8 July, June - 4 to 10 June,   May - 14 to 20 May, April - 9 to 14 April, March - 12 to 17 March.