Ukraine will grant media access to committee meetings.

The Verkhovna Rada has adopted the draft law No. 11321 in its entirety, which amends certain laws of Ukraine to enhance certain guarantees for the activities of media, journalists, and citizens' access to information. A total of 286 deputies voted in favor.

This was reported by MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak.

According to him, the draft law provides for the opening of the work of the Verkhovna Rada Committees to the media and the public.

The deputy specified that the agenda for the committee meeting will be announced 24 hours in advance. Additionally, the sessions of the Rada Committees will be broadcasted. During wartime, a delay of up to 24 hours is permissible.

It should be noted, that the goals and objectives of the draft law include strengthening:

• guarantees for the operations of media and journalists regarding the provision of opportunities for their professional activities during curfew hours under martial law, in case of accreditation by the Armed Forces of Ukraine and/or other components of the defense forces, including the involvement of the Security Service of Ukraine, and the corresponding strengthening of citizens' rights to access information;
• ensuring a balance between security measures for parliamentary committees and the democratic principles of openness, transparency, and accessibility of public information.

Therefore, in Article 117 of the Law of Ukraine "On Media," it is proposed to stipulate that:

1. The provisions set forth in Article 117 of the Law of Ukraine "On Media" regarding exemption from liability under the conditions defined in this article apply not only to entities in the media sector and their employees but also to individuals working under civil law contracts for the media.

2. Exemption from liability for entities in the media sector and their employees is possible not only for verbatim reproduction of public speeches or statements from legal entities, state authorities, local government bodies, their officials, members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and candidates for elective positions, but also for conveying the essence of such speeches or statements without distortion.

3. Entities in the online media sector are exempt from liability for disseminating false information, as well as information whose dissemination is prohibited by Articles 36, 42, and 119 of the aforementioned law, if such information was shared by users in comment sections or user publication placements on the website or webpage of that media, provided that the online media entity restricted access to such information within three working days not only from the moment of receiving the respective complaint or order from the National Council but also from the moment of receiving a ruling on the initiation of the respective proceedings by the court.

Background. Earlier, Mind reported that the EU criticizes the telethon and calls on Kyiv to restore a "pluralistic media landscape." Brussels expects Ukraine to resume the operations of all broadcasters in a pre-war format and questions the objectivity of the telethon.