Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko has condemned the decision by Ukrainian authorities to ban broadcasts of Russian television channels.
“It is wrong to shut the mouthpiece of mass media who have their own
point of view on current events, and that is a sign of degradation. One
should learn to listen to the truth, listen to different points of view
and draw conclusions. We watch our television channels daily, and they
do not facilitate an incitement of ethnic discord. On the contrary, they
are trying to bring common-sense ideas and common-sense assessments to
the situation in Ukraine,” Matviyenko told reporters on Wednesday.
“Our television channels do not make anything up, nor do they allow
themselves to adopt anti-Ukrainian propaganda. We still see the
Ukrainians as our brothers and friends,” Matviyenko said.
Russian television channels gave no reason “either to the Ukrainian
people or to this country’s authorities for some different
interpretation of Russian-Ukrainian relations,” she said.
“We see a completely different side, with a massive Russophobic,
anti-Russian campaign going on in Ukraine, and that should worry the new
authorities who live for today without thinking about tomorrow,”
Matviyenko said.
