NewsNews19 February 2018

The system of "black lists" without clear criteria resembles a fiction

In the opinion of "1+1 media", in order to be consistent and objective in the situation that has developed around the formation and application of the List of persons who pose a threat to the national security of Ukraine, the relevant state bodies must in the near future or implement clear criteria for the settlement of such issues, or to abolish "blacklists" as such. Otherwise, the decisions of the authorities look biased and unfounded. "1+1 media" is convinced that one of the main principles of the activity of any state bodies is the transparency and consistency of their decisions and the inadmissibility of the use of so-called "double standards" or selectivity in the application of legal prohibitions to different persons or business entities.

In turn, we welcome the attempts of the industry to develop clear mechanisms for the procedure of formation of "black lists", according to which films and series with the participation of persons from the List could be banned. "1+1 media" always supports self-regulation initiatives and takes an active part in ITC working groups discussing these issues. However, without support at the governmental and legislative levels, these proposals will not make sense. Therefore, we are sure that government decisions need to be made in the near future and are concerned that work in this direction is proceeding slowly.

In addition, recently published in social networks the correspondence of one of the top managers of the Ukrainian channel with a member of the National TV Council regarding one of the actors of the popular series "Matchmakers" allows us to assume that such meticulous attention to Fedir Dobronravov, who was included in the above mentioned in the fall of 2017 List, can be a consequence (or, even worse, a way) of incorrect competition.

"1+1 media" once again appeals to the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Council of Ukraine for Television and Radio Broadcasting, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, the State Agency for Film Affairs of Ukraine with a request to clarify why other films and series with the participation of F. Dobronravov, which were shown on Ukrainian television, remained unnoticed by the authorities? In addition, we ask you to clarify why dozens of artists who constantly participate in shootings and tours in Crimea are still not included in the list of persons who pose a threat to national security.

In particular, according to publicly available sources, Leonid Kulagin, Kyrylo Kyaro, Olga Lomonosova, Tetyana Lyutayeva, Dmytro Dyuzhev, Anton Makarskyi, Oleksandr Golovin and others visited the territory of Crimea to participate in filming processes or on tour. A number of cultural figures of the Russian Federation (producers and actors), in particular, Ivan Zhidkov, Kateryna Varnava, Kirill Safonov, Nonna Grishaeva, Maria Poroshina, Maria Pirogov, Oleksiy Demidov, Lyubov Tolkalina, Serhiy Selyanov, Yevgeny Sidikhin for deliberately violating the state border of Ukraine during trips to the occupied Crimea and participation in the propaganda activities of the Russian occupying forces are included in the "Peacemaker" base. Back in May 2017, the Security Service of Ukraine banned citizens of the Russian Federation I.I. Alfiorova, L.I. Yarmolnyk, and O.O. Yakovleva from entering Ukraine. However, none of the above-mentioned persons is included in the List of persons who pose a threat to national security, and, as a result, no rental licenses have been revoked for any film with the participation of these persons.

The "1+1 media" group separately draws the attention of the media community, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and the State Agency of Ukraine for Cinema to the fact that some subjects of cinematography, grossly violating the requirements of Article 15-1 of the Law of Ukraine "On Cinematography" (regarding the ban on broadcasting films produced by individuals and legal entities of the aggressor state after January 1, 2014), continue the illegal practice of obtaining in Ukraine state certificates for the right to distribute and show films that are considered Russian in the Russian Federation, and some of which even received "certificates" in the Russian Federation national film". Thus, only during the last few months in Ukraine were shown the following TV series with signs of Russian-made films: "Grooms for a Fool" (producer - Russkoe company, 2017), "Mitigating Circumstances" (producer - Avangard company, 2017 year), "Queen Margo" (producer - Russkoe company, 2017), "Women in Love" (another title is "3 Happy Women", producer - Grynfilm, 2015), "Alien's Fate" (another title - "Stranger's Sweetheart", producer - "Motorfilm", 2015), "Polshaga do semny" (another title - "Svodnye sudby", producer - "Marsmedia", 2015), "Black Blood" (producer - "Palameda Production" ", 2017).

It will be recalled that in November 2017, the "1+1 media" group publicly drew the attention of all interested authorities to the inadmissibility of using double standards in the formation and application of the List of persons who pose a threat to national security, but did not receive any response or any other reaction. So, unfortunately, we have reason to consider the inactivity of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, and the State Agency of Ukraine for Film Affairs as a manifestation of unmotivated selectivity and unsystematic approach to determining the circle of persons to be included in the List.

"1+1 Media" sent relevant letters to the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Council for TV and Radio Broadcasting and the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.

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