You're reading: Ukrainian newspaper to come out with empty front pages to protest slander bill

Lviv - Most of the newspapers published in Lviv will come out with empty front pages on Friday in protest against a bill, proposed by lawmaker Vitaliy Zhuravsky, that would introduce criminal liability for slander. 

The newspapers Vysoky Zamok, Lvivska Gazeta, ZIK and Ratusha will come out with empty front pages, according to a statement sent out to the Lviv media.

Reporters write on social networks that other printed media will join the action, as well, but no complete list was given. The empty front pages will only carry the newspapers’ names and the caption reading: “Our front page is empty because they want to silence us and take away our right to know the truth.”

But one of the most popular newspapers in the Lviv region, the Express, will not join the action.

The newspaper’s regional branches division head, Bohdan Kufrik, said the Express devoted a page to this theme and will carry an interview with prominent rights activist Semen Gluzman on Thursday on the same problem.