Yanukovych says he will protect freedom of speech and interests of journalists

Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych has said he will support the freedom of speech of journalists and protect their interests. "I'm anxious about the signals I receive about certain incidents with journalists, which have occurred, in particular, in Lviv, Kyiv, when local officials treated journalists [improperly]… sometimes without responsibility," the president's press service cited Yanukovych as saying.

Yanukovych said he considers such incidents inadmissible.

"As the president of Ukraine I will always support the freedom of press, protect journalists and do everything in order to make government transparent, and its actions open for the press and society," the head of state said.

The president added that because of cases of disrespect for the freedom of press he "decided to advance his dialog with journalists from all over Ukraine and meet with the representatives of press for an open and sincere talk about the life of the country on April 22."