Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has blocked 15 online media outlets from Hungary, Romania, Moldova and Greece for allegedly spreading Russian propaganda, Uablocklist reported.
The ban affected Hungarian-language outlets, including Origo, Demokrata, Vdtablog, Szilaj Csikó, Pravda Magyarország, News Front, Bal-Rad, and Hirlistazo. In addition, Pravda Romania, Flux24, Sputnik Moldova–România, TopWar, Rezistenta, the official site of the Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova (pcrm.md), as well as Greece’s 902.gr, the portal of the Communist Party of Greece, were also blocked.
According to the Ukrainian justification, these platforms spread disinformation about alleged ‘terrorist activities’ of Ukrainians, mocked support for Ukraine, portrayed the EU and NATO as divided and ineffective, criticized sanctions policy, and circulated conspiracy theories.
‘I was surprised, but not shocked, because if you look at what the Zelenskyy regime has already done to suppress dissent, this is a completely understandable development,’ said András Bencsik, editor-in-chief of Demokrata, speaking to hirado.hu. He added that he found the move infuriating and outrageous, but ‘compared to the immoral and unlawful measures Zelenskyy and his people have already taken, making Hungarian outlets inaccessible in Ukraine is a mere trifle.’
‘Ukraine is a rotten, corrupt dictatorship, it has nothing to do with civilized states anymore’
‘They banned opposition parties and opposition press in Ukraine, they trample on democracy and freedom of speech, and now they are banning media from neighbouring countries that are inconvenient for them. It’s terrible! Ukraine is a rotten, corrupt dictatorship, it has nothing to do with civilized states anymore,’ Bencsik said.
He argued that there is little chance of effectively defending press freedom in Ukraine at international forums, since ‘the West not only turned a blind eye to the dismantling of freedom of speech in Ukraine, but also ignored the cruelties committed against indigenous minorities.’
‘The Hungarians of Transcarpathia will still find us on Facebook, and our podcasts are available online—unless they too are banned in the future. The world has gone abnormal, war psychosis is rampant, and since we—like Origo—are unwilling to take part in the war hysteria, they banned us,’ he added.
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