Free Press Unlimited's Leon Willems on the crisis in Ukraine

The invasion of Russia is closing in on the capital of Ukraine. On Twitter, we see a Russian tank driving over cars, shared by reporters of the Kyiv Independent. Good war reporting from the staff of this young newsroom.

On moments like this, our hearts, compassion and thoughts go out to all the people who are faced with this aggression. At Free Press Unlimited we have scaled up our support to the reporters and independent news outlets that stand tall for the right to information of the people of Ukraine as well as the citizens of the neighboring countries. Factual, timely and relevant information continues to be shared by the many news and media outlets that have developed over the years since the Maidan revolution.

In many aspects the war against Ukraine by the Russian Government is the culmination of an information war that has intensified since the people of Ukraine decided to take their destiny into their own hands in 2014.

That is why we are calling on all authorities who have capacity, to attend to the Ukrainian independent press and journalists who are most vulnerable during this period. This also includes the independent journalists who were forced to flee the extreme repression in Belarus.

Yesterday the network of Press Freedom organisations that Free Press Unlimited is part of, issued a statement to the member states of the Media Freedom Coalition. It reads:

“It is vital that the Media Freedom Coalition stands with journalists and media workers currently active in the country by swiftly issuing a statement in accordance with MFC principles. The Coalition should remind warring parties that journalists are civilians whose rights must be respected and protected in accordance with international humanitarian law and make clear that press freedom violations, including attacks on journalists and media facilities, will not be tolerated and the perpetrators held to account. The MFC should express support for journalists in times of war, particularly, as critical to the flow of independent information for all, and stress the need to guarantee that right to information, including for people in Russia.

Free Press Unlimited calls on all countries with representations in Ukraine to show solidarity and flexibility, to honour requests for Ukrainian citizens in emergency need of assistance, including journalists. Practical assistance and emergency visas are crucial for some of the endangered journalists. And we request neighboring countries to keep their borders open and provide a safe haven.
 

Information warfare

The military invasion in Ukraine is the next phase in the war against Ukraine that Russian president Putin started in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and the support to separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk. There can be no misunderstanding about the fact that the Russian government has been, and currently is acting in grave violation of international agreements and accords that Russia has itself made, adopted and signed.

Unfortunately, the ethnic nationalist rhetoric of Putin to legitimize the invasion does resonate with many Russians, largely because the muzzling of the independent press in Russia by the authorities. Open public debate about the motives and course of action taken by the Russian government versus Ukraine does not take place.

An all-out war and the invasion of sovereign nations as we see Russia enact these days, is combined with massive amounts of disinformation, propaganda and the creation of mass confusion.

Yet, there is protest. Thousands went to the streets in the cities of Russia. 130 Russian mayors signed a letter denouncing the invasion of Ukraine. Novija Gazeta newspaper came out with a bi-lingual edition of its newspaper. Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitri Muratov, editor in chief of Novija Gazeta, published a video denouncing the war.

The media watchdog of the Kremlin has threatened with big sanctions against those media outlets that share information other than that of the state media. High fines are blocking the access to independent information for Russians. On social media the fight to inform Russians about what is really going on in Ukraine still continues.

In Ukraine journalists are working under extreme conditions. President Zelenskyy asked the media not to spread fear. But the Ukrainian government has not launched a war against independent media and journalists. In fact, we see many young journalists doing courageous work to inform the public about what is happening on the battlefield, with surprisingly good networks of stringers that collect and share information.

Independent information is essential to understand what is going on in Ukraine. It is crucial that the Netherlands and other nations engage in maximizing efforts to support them in this challenging time. For many years, Free Press Unlimited has been active in supporting the independent press in Ukraine. We will continue to support their invaluable work as it is crucial.
 

Huge needs

Our scanning of the independent media landscape in the past few days indicates that journalists lack many things. Shortage of transportation, and fear for the physical safety of staff during military operations are top issues. Financial means are limited due to limitations on cash and currency exchange options. Though mobile networks remain operational, expectations are that this will end with the Russians soldiers progressing towards the capital Kiev. Which is why our joined engagement is needed for the work of independent journalists and access to independent information.

Supporting independent journalism in conflict countries is part and parcel of the DNA at Free Press Unlimited. Our program team working on safety of journalists and related projects to ensure and improve access to independent information are currently working on full steam. Our partners have prepared themselves for emergency scenarios in the past period. We have provided emergency kits, digital security and safety training, and the set-up of a safe house to continue work from a safe location.

Protecting journalists, providing means to operate and providing information is difficult, requires persistence and creativity. It is what we are here to do.

Leon Willems
Director of Policy & Programmes Free Press Unlimited

Photo: Aftermath of an overnight shelling at a residential area in Kyiv, Ukraine, 25 February 2022. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO.