The decision, based on a proposal made by the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday, was confirmed by the Council Thursday. Council chairman Yuri Artemenko stated that "at the request of the National Television Company of Ukraine, we have revoked the broadcasting license of Euronews –namely its Ukrainian edition."
Artemenko noted that "the former criminal authorities, on onerous terms, entered into a contract with Euronews." The chairman stated that "the conditions that were spelled out were very opaque, very poor. The people responsible for creating this information product are based in the city of Lyon, France; they create their product as they wish, guided by their values."
The Ukrainian edition of Euronews began its broadcast in 2011. Until August, 2014, the Russian version of the channel was also broadcast in Ukraine, before the Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting made a decision to close it.
Having issued edicts on the removal of a slew of Russian content from Ukraine's airwaves, the Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting has since been accused of pressuring even loyalist Ukrainian channels. Last month, the Council warned Channel 112 Ukraina that it would sanction the station if it broadcast Shuster Live, a pro-regime program, for featuring Russian journalist Maxim Shevchenko as one of its guests. The channel canceled the broadcast, and complained of pressure from the Council on its website.
