You're reading: Yanukovych denies curtailing media freedoms

Ordinary Ukrainians have not complained to President Viktor Yanukovych about restrictions on media, at least not in person.

During an interview broadcast by Channel 5 TV on Oct. 13, the president said no one had raised the subject during his travels around the country.

"I visit many of the country’s regions and meet with people. They don’t ask me about these things. I haven’t heard anyone complaining about pressure on media," Yanukovych said, noting that no one has written about the problem either. "Either I am not being shown these letters or, if they exist, their authors are politically prejudiced. As a rule, that is."

"I always say, ‘ If you ask [me] a concrete question, I will give a concrete answer,’" he added. "I don’t know anyone in the Presidential Administration or Cabinet of Ministers who is involved in this, that is pressuring television or print media journalists. I don’t know. Show me, please, just one official who does this and my reaction will be instantaneous. That person will be dismissed. I don’t think pressure on the media is a problem."