European leaders have asked Zelensky to lift sanctions against Ukrainian media and release Medvedchuk

 

 During the Eastern Partnership summit, European leaders, while talking to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, proposed lifting sanctions on a number of Ukrainian media outlets, as well as Viktor Medvedchuk, leader of the Opposition Platform for Life political council. . This was announced by the Ukrainian newspaper "Strana", citing a source from diplomatic circles close to the talks.

 "These were negotiations to de-escalate tensions around Ukraine and Russia, as well as an exchange of views on Ukraine's domestic policy and the human rights situation in the country. European leaders presented a list of Zelenski's proposals to calm the situation. It was also stated that the sanctions imposed by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) against the opposition media, including the sanctions against Strana and three opposition TV channels closed in February 2021, were unfair and should be canceled. They exacerbate the situation and deepen the split in Ukraine. The Ukrainian side was also told that Medvedchuk needed to be released from house arrest, "the source said.

It is noted that the Europeans made these proposals to ease tensions in relations with Russia and within Ukraine and they were transmitted to the Ukrainian side in private, in a strictly confidential manner.

 In February, Zelensky imposed sanctions through the National Security and Defense Council for five years on 112 Ukraine, Newsweek and Zick TV and their owner, Taras Kozak, an MP from the Opposition Platform for Life, overturning the revocation or suspension of their licenses. and the cessation of the provision of services for the retransmission and distribution of their television programs. On August 20, sanctions were imposed on the editor-in-chief of Strana, Igor Guzhva, as well as the publishers of Strana, blogger and journalist Anatoly Shariy and his wife, Olga. As a result, Strana and Sharii were blocked on Ukrainian territory.

 Medvedchuk is under 24-hour house arrest. Criminal proceedings have been instituted against him in Ukraine for "Treason", "Violation of the laws and customs of war", "Support for the activities of terrorist organizations". According to the prosecutor's office, this is an illegal supply of coal from territories not controlled by Kiev in late 2014 - early 2015.