Alasania allowed to remain broadcasting head during elections

Zurab Alasania, the CEO of the National Public
Broadcasting Company of Ukraine who was dismissed on Jan. 31,
will remain in his post until after the presidential elections, as decided by
his ousters. At a Feb. 12 meeting, the company’s supervisory board decided
postpone Alasania’s dismissal until May 6 so that it’s not related to the
elections. Alasania had said that he believed members of the president’s
entourage arranged for him dismissal as the text of the decision cited his
failure to broadcast certain events featuring President Poroshenko.

Alasania’s dismissal prompted a wave of protest among
Ukraine’s NGOs, journalists and activists, who also believed his dismissal
stemmed from the broadcast of investigative journalist reports harmful to the
president’s image. Most recently, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the
Media Harlem Desir expressed his concern over the dismissal in a Feb. 8
statement. “The speedy decision is worrying as it may negatively affect the
independence and viability of the public service media in Ukraine, particularly
ahead of two major elections this year,” he said.

Zenon Zawada: If
Alasania’s dismissal was the work of the presidential administration (which we
suspect), it was a mistake that has backfired, especially considering a scandal
erupted over a television network notorious for its low ratings. Now Alasania
is emboldened to broadcast whatever he pleases, lest he accuse the administration
of censorship during the campaign.

Since public broadcasting has a small audience, even a
possible decision to continue to broadcast investigative news reports harmful
to the president won’t affect Poroshenko’s re-election effort. What has been
more harmful was the stain on the elections that this scandal caused. But
reinstating Alasania should succeed in removing the distraction for Poroshenko,
just as arranging for Vladyslav Manher
to serve as the scapegoat for Kateryna Handiuk’s murder.