In a statement, AKEL, notes that "the allegation of interference by a senior RIK official in order to cut off the hosting of EDEK MP Kostis Efstathiou in the noon broadcast of the public broadcaster is extremely serious and offends freedom of expression and journalistic ethics. It comes in addition to a number of cases of interference from above, censorship of broadcasts and biased behaviour on the part of RIK during the current administration."
He underlines that it is regrettable that today, Press Freedom Day, we need to be reminded that RIK is a public broadcaster that serves the information of the Cypriot people and no one else."
It is regrettable that today, on Press Freedom Day, it needs to be reminded that RIK is a public broadcaster that serves the information of the Cypriot people and no one else.
"The management and the management of RIK must take a stand and give clear answers to those responsible for this action", he concludes.
"Freedom of the press with gagging on the state channel?" says the Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Co-operation
For its part, the Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Co-operation notes that the information about "cutting" the MP of the EPP Mr. The information that saw the light of day today from the newspaper "Haravgi" refers to a demand by the said executive that Mr. Efstathiou should not appear on the air of the noon broadcast of RIK.
More specifically, it notes that "the information that saw the light of day from the newspaper "Haravgi" refers to a demand by the said executive that Mr. Efstathiou should not appear on the air of the noon broadcast of RIK. Evstathiou and the resignation of the host of the show, Dinos Finikaridis, for reasons of decency.
As noted, if the above information is correct, it is a resounding blow to freedom of the press and freedom of expression, especially on the day that the World Press Freedom Day is celebrated. Partisanship and financial interests seem to have their tentacles well wrapped up in various aspects of our country's public life.
Efi Xanthou, coordinator of the Movement's Internal Affairs Committee, said that "it is a terrible blow against Eleftherotypia, and a particular blow to the objectivity of the state channel, if the information is true that journalist Dinos Finikaridis has resigned from his position after a senior RIK official interfered with his program.
And this complaint is particularly worrying, since it implies not only the intervention of the administration of the Foundation in Eleftherotypia, but also of at least one political party in this incident. We are saddened by the possibility that this interference may have occurred and we call on the Foundation to immediately clarify its position and what actions it will take to ensure the independence of its editors and presenters.
As the Citizens' Ecological Movement, we support public broadcasting, but such incidents must be a thing of the past. Public broadcasting is a public good and must continue to carry out its work unhindered."
"Shameful interference" says Kolokasidis
Particularly scathing is the comment of the Candidate for the Presidency of the Republic George Kolokasidis, who speaks of "shameful interference" in the journalistic profession.
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