Protesters rally outside NASH TV network, demanding its closure

By Oleg Petrasiuk .

Published Feb. 5, 2021. Updated Feb. 5 at 5:56 pm

Protesters rally outside the NASH TV channel headquarters in Kyiv on February 4, 2021. The demonstrators said that the channel is pro-Kremlin and deserves to be taken off the air, just like the three channels President Volodymyr Zelensky sanctioned and banned from operating. Zelensky said the three channels, 112 Ukraine, ZIK TV, and NewsOne TV, air harmful Russian propaganda, which is part of Russia's assault on the country.

Photo by Oleh Petrasiuk

About 100 activists clashed with police outside the headquarters of the NASH (Our) TV channel, where they came to demand its closure, accusing it of being pro-Kremlin. Four people were detained in the melee.

The protesters were emboldened by President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to ratify financial sanctions against three TV networks belonging to lawmaker Taras Kozak of the pro-Russian party Opposition Platform — For Life, namely 112 Ukraine, NewsOne and ZIK. The networks were immediately taken off the air and are available only online.

Commenting on the decision, Zelensky said he strongly supports the freedom of speech, but not propaganda financed by Russia. The networks have a history of promoting Russia’s interests and painting the Kremlin-sponsored war in eastern Ukraine as a Ukrainian civil war.