After 3 weeks of constant conflict the president of Ukraine, Zelensky, has done what ‘leaders’ do in time of war….ban any political opposition and nationalized the media……control of the political process and the machine for propaganda must be in the hands on the party in power.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky banned 11 opposition political parties and nationalized media. Any activities supporting the parties labeled “pro-Russian” are now illegal.
Axios reports the list of parties now banned include: Platform For Life, Shariy Party, Nashi, Opposition Bloc, Left Opposition, Union of Left Forces, State, Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine, Socialist Party of Ukraine, Socialists Party, and Volodymyr Saldo Bloc.
Platform for Life is Ukraine’s largest opposition party and currently holds 44 seats in parliament. Last year, The party’s leader, Viktor Medvedchuk, was accused of treason and placed under house arrest.
Another targeted party, Nashi, is led by Yevhen Murayev. The UK previously accused Murayev of working with Moscow to overthrow the Ukrainian government. However, Murayev was sanctioned by Russia in 2018.
Ukraine’s Russian minority has faced increased discrimination since the 2014 coup. The opposition parties largely represent the 17% of the Ukrainian people who are ethnic Russians. Language and cultural laws have targeted Russian movies, including one starring Zelensky.
The new presidential order is a part of Zelensky’s effort to create a unified political narrative in Ukraine. He has announced an information policy that combines “all national TV channels…[into] a single information platform of strategic communication.”
(antiwar.com)
Personally I have a problem with these moves….only one voice for the ‘news’…..I realize that Ukraine is fighting for their very existence and these moves are part of the program of survival….
Only one voice could be disastrous….abuses will be in the wind.
Any thoughts on this turn of events?
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Sounds absolutely fine to me given the country is being pummeled to death and it makes no sense entertaining the giving a voice to your enemy doing the pummeling. If it’s designed to be a temporary effort then I see no issue. You an only have one captain of a ship in times of emergency. We failed to do that with the pandemic from the start.
Given past history I would like to know where it ends…..I disagree you can be the ‘captain’ with dissenting voices…..you notice that most are Left voices…..what is that going to lead to in the near future. Be well chuq
You’re a much better cynic than me, old chum. With far greater reason, I’m sure. 🙂
I do not trust moves like this in time of war….they seem to be permanent afterwards. chuq
Unlike Doug, I cannot see the sense in this. On one hand, Putin is being criticised for effectively running a one-party state, and banning dissent. Ukraine is supposed to be fighting for f’the freedom of democracy’, and now bans anyone who doesn’t agree with Zelensky? Seems to me he is now showing his true colours.
(Or perhaps he doesn’t want them reporting on all the millions he received (and hid offshore) from the Israeli-backed businesses that got him elected?)
Best wishes, Pete.
Like I said to Doug…I am suspicious of these types of moves in time of war…..chuq
If I am ever captain of a sailing vessel I will have to make it a point to not shanghai you guys into being part of my “loyal” crew. 😛