{{Short description|Ukrainian journalist}} {{Infobox person | name = Igor Guzhva | image = Игорь Гужва.jpg | alt = | caption = | native_name = Ігор Анатолійович Гужва | native_name_lang = uk | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1974|5|23}} | birth_place = Sloviansk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, USSR | citizenship = {{UKR}} | other_names = | occupation = journalist | alma_mater = Donetsk State University | years_active = | known_for = editor-in-chief of the website ''Strana.ua'' | notable_works = | awards = }}
'''Igor Anatolyevich Guzhva''' ({{langx|uk|Ігор Анатолійович Гужва|Ihor Anatoliyovych Huzhva}}; born May 23, 1974) is a Ukrainian journalist, commentator, television host, and editor-in-chief of the website ''Strana.ua''. From 2013 until July 29, 2015, he was the owner and leader of the media holding ''Multimedia Invest Group''. Since October 1, 2018, he has been a political refugee in the European Union (Austria).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://vesti-ukr.com/strana/305852-ihor-huzhva-zajavil-chto-vlasti-avstrii-predostavili-emu-ubezhishche |title=Игорь Гужва заявил, что власти Австрии предоставили ему убежище |access-date=2019-07-12 |archive-date=2019-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712202748/https://vesti-ukr.com/strana/305852-ihor-huzhva-zajavil-chto-vlasti-avstrii-predostavili-emu-ubezhishche}}</ref>
== Early life ==
Igor Guzhva was born on May 23, 1974, in the city of Sloviansk in the Donetsk Oblast.
From 1991 to 1996, he studied at the Economics Faculty of Donetsk State University.<ref name="ТК03">[Игорь Гужва: «Пока я являюсь главным редактором газеты „Сегодня“, с ФЭПом сотрудничать не буду»] «Телекритика», 26.12.2013</ref>
In 1994, he started working as an economic observer in the newspapers ''Vest'' and ''Donetsk Kryazh''.<ref name="ТК03"/> He became the editor of the business application in the newspaper ''Salon Dona i Basy'',<ref name="ТК03"/> and in 1998, he became the deputy editor-in-chief.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zadonbass.org/news/top/message_44515|title="Салон Дона и Баса". 20 лет.|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130416072341/http://zadonbass.org/news/top/message_44515|archivedate=2013-04-16}}</ref>
From 2001, he worked and lived in Moscow. He was a project coordinator in the Foundation for Effective Politics of Gleb Pavlovsky. He analyzed the situation in the information field of Russia and CIS countries, as well as overseas. He also worked as a correspondent for the magazine ''Expert'', covering politics and economics in the CIS.<ref name="ТК03"/>
== Journalist career == === ''Segodnya'' ===
In 2003, he returned to Ukraine, to Kyiv and became the editor-in-chief of the newspaper ''Segodnya''.<ref name="bbc">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/features-40392925|title=Хто такий Ігор Гужва|publisher=BBC News|website=bbc.com|date=2017-06-24}}</ref> In 2004–2006, together with the Spanish consulting company ''Innovation'', he carried out transformations in the newspaper. The redesign of the publication was implemented. ''Segodnya'' became a mass quality newspaper (the concept of Qualoid – quality tabloid) of a modern European model.
From 2004 to the end of 2008, the newspaper ''Segodnya'' reached leading positions in the market of printed media in Ukraine.<ref name="bbc"/> The daily circulation of the newspaper increased from 100–110 to 150-160 thousand copies. The newspaper became a leader in the printed media in Kyiv.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mmr.ua/ru/show/nazvana-samaja-populjarnaja-gazeta-v-kieve|title=Названа самая популярная газета в Киеве|website=mmr.ua|date=2012-09-24}}</ref>
On April 10, 2007, the website Segodnya.ua was launched,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.segodnya.ua/|title=Сегодня.ua|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211020517/http://www.segodnya.ua/|archivedate=2012-12-11}}</ref> which soon turned into a full-fledged online newspaper. Starting from 2011, according to the rating of ''Bigmir'', this online publication occupied the first place among online media in Ukraine in terms of monthly audience coverage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top.bigmir.net/show/mass_media/|title=Главная — Рейтинг сайтов}}</ref>
In 2012, Guzhva was fired from the position of editor-in-chief of the newspaper ''Segodnya'' by the decision of the supervisory board of the owner of the publication - the company ''SCM Holdings'' of businessman Rinat Akhmetov.<ref name="bbc"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://zn.ua/SOCIETY/glavred_gazety_segodnya_obzhaluet_svoe_uvolnenie.html|title=Главред газеты "Сегодня" обжалует свое увольнение|publisher=Dzerkalo Tyzhnia|website=zn.ua|date=2012-01-17}}</ref>
In an interview with the newspaper ''Ukrainska Pravda'', Igor Guzhva stated that his problems began from the moment of the publication in April 2011 in the newspaper "Segodnya" of a report on the huge suburban house of the then-president.<ref name="pravda.com.ua">{{cite web|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2013/04/11/6987993/|title=Десятки сотрудников газеты Ахметова пошли к своему бывшему главреду|publisher=Ukrainska Pravda|date=2013-04-11}}</ref>
Members of the ''Segodnya'' collective submitted a statement in which they declared that they consider the dismissal of Igor Guzhva to be revenge for his principled stance in defense of the interests of the labor collective and the fight against corruption and censorship in the newspaper, and they asked Rinat Akhmetov to take personal control of the situation.<ref name="pravda.com.ua"/> Soon after, a statement in sharp tones was posted on the SCM website by the SCM Supervisory Board, stating that the decision to dismiss Igor Guzhva was final and would not be revised.<ref name="bbc"/>
=== ''Multimedia Invest Group'' ===
After leaving the ''Segodnya'' newspaper, Igor Guzhva moved to Moscow, and since March 2012, he has been part of the leadership of the Russian publication ''Moskovskiye Novosti'' as the chief editor. In January 2013, Guzhva returned to Ukraine, where he created the media holding ''Multimedia-Invest Group''.
The holding included: the daily newspaper ''Vesti'' (with a circulation of 370,000 copies - at that time, the most massive and widely circulated newspaper in Ukraine) founded in May 2013, the internet publication ''Vesti.ua'', the socio-political weekly ''Vesti. Reporter'', founded in partnership with the Russian magazine ''Russian Reporter'' in August 2013, the UBR satellite news channel, and the radio station ''Radio Vesti'' broadcasting in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro.<ref>[http://www.epravda.com.ua/rus/publications/2013/07/2/383204/ Российское нашествие на украинский медиарынок] // Экономическая правда. — 2013. — 2 июля.</ref><ref>[http://www.mediabusiness.com.ua/content/view/35384/126/lang,ru/ Гужва добавит к «Вестям» канал UBR и радиостанцию] // МедиаБизнес. — 2013. — 17 июня.</ref><ref>[http://www.mediabusiness.com.ua/content/view/39439/lang,ru/ В сейфе Гужвы нашли 1,5 млн грн. Он говорит — это сотрудника] // МедиаБизнес. — 2014. — 22 мая.</ref>
After the change of government in Ukraine as a result of the Euromaidan, Igor Guzhva's holding was attacked by the authorities and nationalists, who accused the holding's media of being pro-Russian.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://espreso.tv/news/2015/05/20/komitet_rady_vymahaye_zakryty_quotinterquot_ta_quotvestyquot__bo_vony_dopomahayut_kremlyu____nardep|title=Комітет Ради вимагає закрити "Інтер" та "Вести", бо вони допомагають Кремлю, - нардеп|publisher=Espreso TV|website=espreso.tv|date=2015-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tsn.ua/politika/sbu-zvinuvatila-gazetu-vesti-u-separatizmi-i-brudnomu-finansuvanni-421441.html|title=СБУ звинуватила газету "Вести" у сепаратизмі і брудному фінансуванні|publisher=TSN.ua|website=tsn.ua|date=2015-04-15}}</ref>
In May 2014, the first criminal cases were initiated against companies belonging to ''Multimedia-Invest Group'' concerning non-payment of taxes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://incident.obozrevatel.com/crime/72091-vlasti-zablokirovali-redaktsiyu-gazetyi-vesti.htm|title=Налоговая милиция заблокировала редакцию газеты "Вести"|publisher=Obozrevatel|website=incident.obozrevatel.com|date=2014-05-22}}</ref>
Igor Guzhva denied the accusations and stated that the authorities and nationalists were attacking the holding company because it had an independent position and covered the situation in the country objectively. Including regarding the War in Donbas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spektr.press/bolshevizm-yavlenie-internacionalnoe-glavred-ukrainskih-vestej-o-raskole-v-smi/|title="Большевизм — явление интернациональное". Главред украинских "Вестей" о расколе в СМИ|website=spektr.press|author=Maryna Akhmedova|date=2015-07-20}}</ref> Igor Guzhva, in particular, outlined his position as answers to questions from his colleague, ''Novoye Vremya'' editor-in-chief Vitaliy Sych.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://prportal.com.ua/Fakty/sych-vs-guzhva-rukovoditel-holdinga-media-invest-grupp-otvetil-glavredu-nv|title=Сыч vs Гужва: руководитель холдинга "Медиа Инвест Групп" ответил главреду "НВ"|website=prportal.com.ua}}</ref>
In July 2015, Igor Guzhva announced the sale of his stake and his resignation as head of the holding and editor-in-chief of the newspaper ''Vesti''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vesti.ua/strana/109242-tri-voprosa-rukovoditelju-mediaholdinga-vesti-ukraina|title=Три вопроса руководителю медиахолдинга "Вести Украина"}} «Вести», 30.07.2015</ref>
=== ''Strana.ua'' ===
On 16 February 2016, he announced the launch of a new online publication ''Strana.ua'', which employed former journalists of ''Multimedia Invest Group'' (in particular, Svitlana Kryukova). He described himself as the sole investor in this media outlet.<ref>{{cite web|title=Новый медиа-проект Игоря Гужвы оформлен на его жену|url=http://biz.liga.net/all/reklama-marketing/novosti/3252155-novyy-media-proekt-igorya-guzhvy-oformlen-na-ego-zhenu.htm}} «ЛІГАБізнесІнформ», 16.02.2016</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://detector.media/rinok/article/112849/igor_guzhva_rasskazal_na_chi_dengi_zapustil_novyij_proekt/|title = Игорь Гужва рассказал, на чьи деньги запустил новый проект|author = |work = |date = 2016-02-16|publisher = detector.media|access-date = 2016-02-16|archive-date = 2016-08-09|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160809181408/http://detector.media/rinok/article/112849/igor_guzhva_rasskazal_na_chi_dengi_zapustil_novyij_proekt/}}</ref>
Since 3 June 2016, together with Kryukova, he became the host of the programme ''Subjective Results of Friday from Strana.ua'' on the TV channel NewsOne.
During 2020, ''Strana.ua'' ranked first<ref>{{cite web|url=https://strana.today/news/251886-rejtinh-onlajn-smi-sajt-strana-zanjal-pervoe-mesto.html|title="Страна" стала самым читаемым сайтом дня, недели и месяца среди украинских онлайн-СМИ|publisher=Strana.ua|website=strana.today|date=2020-02-26}}</ref> and second <ref>{{cite web|url=https://imi.org.ua/monitorings/rejtyng-top-sajtiv-ukrayiny-i34992|title=Рейтинг топсайтів України|publisher=Institute of Mass Information|website=imi.org.ua|date=2020-09-11|author=Oleksii Bratushchak}}</ref> in the rating of Ukrainian online media.
Throughout its history, the site has repeatedly claimed attempts by the Ukrainian authorities to organize pressure on its editorial policy, fabrication of criminal cases against the site's management and applied to international structures for protection.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2017/01/12/7132243/|title=Сайт Гужвы заявляет о готовящихся провокациях, СБУ отрицает|publisher=Ukrainska Pravda|website=pravda.com.ua|date=2017-01-12}}</ref> In 2021 Ukrainian NGO's Institute of Mass Information and StopFake stated that the website was one of the "five most unreliable media sites in Ukraine, often resorting to hate speech and manipulative, distorted headlines" and was "parroting Russian propaganda" and publishing Russian based COVID-19 vaccine misinformation.<ref name="refstopfakestrana2783021">{{cite web|url=https://www.stopfake.org/en/strana-ua-or-strana-ru-how-a-sanctioned-site-disseminates-banned-kremlin-messages-in-ukraine/|title=Strana.ua or Strana.ru? How a Sanctioned Site Disseminates Banned Kremlin Messages in Ukraine|publisher=StopFake|website=www.stopfake.org|date=2021-08-27|author=Oleksandr Zamkovoi}}</ref>
== Recognition ==
In 2020, Igor Guzhva took 89th place in the ranking of the 100 most influential Ukrainians according to the magazine ''Focus''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://focus.ua/ratings/469369-100-samyh-vliyatelnyh-ukraincev-po-versii-zhurnala-fokus/list/2404/igor-guzhva|title=#89 Игорь Гужва в рейтинге "Время миньонов. 100 самых влиятельных украинцев по версии журнала Фокус"|publisher=Focus|website=focus.ua|date=2020-12-14}}</ref>
{{blockquote|Within 5 years of its creation, Strana.ua has steadily joined the list of leaders of Ukrainian information websites. One of the characteristic features of the Internet project headed by Guzhva is his sharp criticism of the authorities.}}
== Legal procedures against Guzhva by the Ukrainian authorities ==
In January 2017, ''Strana.ua'' issued a statement in which it said that criminal cases were being prepared against the publication in order to arrest the editorial managers. The publication linked the possible prosecution to the publication of high-profile articles which displeased then President Petro Poroshenko, in particular a report from the Roshen factory in Lipetsk owned by him, an investigation into paid bloggers working on social networks in favour of the authorities, a series of publications on the corruption revelations of MP Oleksandr Onyshchenko, articles about systemic pressure of the authorities on Ukrainian media.<ref>{{Cite web|language=ru|url=https://strana.today/news/49846-vlasti-gotovyat-ataku-na-internet-gazetu-strana.html|title=Власти готовят атаку на интернет-газету "Страна"|website=strana.today|access-date=2021-12-20}}</ref> On 22 June 2017, Igor Guzhva, together with a man named Anton Filipkovsky, was detained at the ''Strana.ua'' editorial office by police and prosecutors under Part 3 Article 189 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (extortion). Prosecutor-General Yuriy Lutsenko said that Guzhva allegedly received 10,000 dollars for not posting on his website compromising information about Radical Party MP Dmytro Lynko, who had reported the incident to the police on 31 March.
Igor Guzhva himself and the ''Strana'' editorial board called these accusations trumped up by the authorities. Guzhva claimed that he did not engage in extortion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://strana.today/video/87284-obyski-v-strane-mohli-byt-svjazany-s-publikatsiej-materialov-o-plenkakh-onishchenko-ihor-huzhva-v-radioefire-holosa-stolitsy.html|title="После публикаций пленок Онищенко была дана команда фабриковать против "Страны" уголовные дела". Игорь Гужва дал интервью радио "Голос столицы"|publisher=Strana.ua|website=strana.today|date=2017-08-16}}</ref>
Guzhva said that Filipkovsky offered him money for removing the materials about Lynko from the website, but he refused to take it. The materials of the criminal case contain correspondence between Guzhva and Filipkovsky, in which Guzhva writes that he refuses to remove the materials.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://strana.today/news/88486-delo-huzhvy-materialy-sledstvija-podtverzhdajut-nevinovnost-hlavreda-strany.html|title=Адвокаты Игоря Гужвы показали материалы уголовного дела, которые говорят о невиновости главреда "Страны"|publisher=Strana.ua|website=strana.today|date=2017-08-22}}</ref>
There are also testimonies from political analyst Kost Bondarenko, who introduced Guzhva and Filipkovsky, in which Bondarenko states that Guzhva told him even before his arrest on June 22, 2017, that he had information that a provocation could be carried out through Filipkovsky's offer to remove materials from the site.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://strana.today/news/79276-politolog-bondarenko-privel-dokazatelstva-togo-chto-delo-protiv-igorya-guzhvy-sfabrikovano.html|title=Человек, который познакомил Гужву с Филипковским, привел доказательства, что дело против главреда "Страны" сфабриковано|publisher=Strana.ua|date=2017-07-03}}</ref>
The editorial team of ''Strana'' is convinced that Filipkovsky is a provocateur sent to Guzhva.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://strana.today/articles/rassledovania/90991-kto-podstavil-hlavnoho-redaktora-strany-ihorja-huzhvu.html|title=Должник и конвертационный "фунт". Кто такой Антон Филипковский, которого хотят сделать ключевым звеном в фабрикации дела против Игоря Гужвы|publisher=Strana.ua|website=strana.today|date=2017-09-15}}</ref> In 2019, former MP of the Radical Party Ihor Mosiychuk claimed that the case against Igor Guzhva was fabricated by his fellow party members on the orders of Poroshenko and with the participation of the Security Service of Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://strana.today/articles/interview/225554-ihor-mosijchuk-rasskazal-pochemu-ushel-ot-ljashko-i-o-tom-kak-sbu-fabrikovalo-delo-protiv-ihorja-huzhvy.html|title=Игорь Мосийчук: "Дело против Гужвы было сфабриковано. СБУ подставила Линько"|publisher=Strana.ua|website=strana.today|author=Svitlana Kryukova|date=2019-10-03}}</ref>
On June 24, the Shevchenko District Court of Kyiv chose a measure of restraint for Igor Guzhva in the form of a 2-month arrest with an alternative to post bail of 500,000 hryvnias. The bail was paid on June 26 by the deputy editor-in-chief of ''Strana'', Svitlana Kryukova.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gordonua.com/news/politics/za-guzhvu-vnesli-zalog-lukash-194674.html|title=За Гужву внесли залог – Лукаш|publisher=GORDON|website=gordonua.com|date=2017-06-26}}</ref> After that, on June 27, Igor Guzhva was released.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rian.com.ua/society/20170627/1025326305.html|title=Игорь Гужва вышел на свободу под залог|publisher=RIA Novosti Ukraine|website=rian.com.ua|date=2017-06-27}}</ref> Later, searches were carried out in the editorial office and on the apartments of some of its employees regarding the alleged receipt by Igor Guzhva of a flash drive with classified information from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Guzhva and the editorial team of ''Strana'' also called these accusations fabricated.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2017/08/1/7151092/|title=Гужва: Никакой секретной информации из Минобороны не получал|publisher=Ukrainska Pravda|website=pravda.com.ua|date=2017-08-01}}</ref> This criminal case did not have any further developments.
On February 1, 2018, the editorial board of ''Strana.ua'' published an appeal to President Petro Poroshenko stating that Igor Guzhva had left Ukraine and asked the Austrian authorities for political asylum. According to the journalist, the request was related to “unprecedented pressure from the authorities” and persecution from Poroshenko.<ref>[https://www.svoboda.org/a/29010323.html Главный редактор «Страны.ua» попросил политического убежища в Австрии] ''Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe'', 01.02.2018</ref> On October 1, 2018, Guzhva announced that he had been granted political refugee in Austria.<ref>[https://detector.media/community/article/141423/2018-10-02-guzhva-kazhe-shcho-otrimav-politichnii-pritulok-v-avstrii/ Гужва каже, що отримав політичний притулок в Австрії] ''Detector Media'', 02.10.2018'</ref>
The ''Strana.ua'' case has been repeatedly noted by international organizations as an example of a worrying situation with freedom of speech in Ukraine. The corresponding statements were made by the Committee to Protect Journalists<ref>{{Cite web|language=en|url=https://cpj.org/2017/08/ukrainian-press-union-president-threatened-after-c.php|title=Ukrainian press union president threatened after criticizing raid on news website|publisher=cpj.org|accessdate=2018-04-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|language=en|url=https://cpj.org/2017/09/cpj-calls-on-ukrainian-president-petro-poroshenko-.php|title=CPJ calls on Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to reaffirm his commitment to ensuring journalists' safety|publisher=cpj.org|accessdate=2018-04-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|language=en|url=https://cpj.org/2018/02/editor-flees-ukraine-after-receiving-death-threats.php|title=Editor flees Ukraine after receiving death threats|publisher=cpj.org|accessdate=2018-04-02}}</ref> and the head of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, Serhiy Tomilenko.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Олег Наливайко: Поки медіа будуть інструментом впливу, деолігархізувати їх не вийде|url=https://detector.media/infospace/article/185268/2021-02-26-oleg-nalyvayko-poky-media-budut-instrumentom-vplyvu-deoligarkhizuvaty-ikh-ne-vyyde/|website=Detector Media|date=2021-02-26}}</ref><ref>[https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news/28667093.html Обшуки у «Страна.ua» свідчать про вибірковий підхід влади — НСЖУ] ''Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe'', 09.08.2017</ref> The situation with ''Strana.ua'' was included in the OSCE report on freedom of speech<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/303956?download=true|title=Отчет ОБСЕ. Март 2017 года|author=|website=|date=|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.osce.org/permanent-council/356511?download=true|title=отчет ОБСЕ. Ноябрь 2017 года|author=|website=|date=|publisher=}}</ref> and the human rights organization Amnesty International.<ref>[https://ria.ru/world/20180222/1515105591.html Киев забыл про обещания Евромайдана, заявили в Amnesty International] // ''RIA Novosti'', 22.02.2018</ref>
In October 2019, when asked about his possible return to Ukraine after a change of power, Igor Guzhva stated that he could not consider such a possibility until the fabricated criminal cases against him were closed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unian.net/politics/10599117-sud-kieva-snyal-glavreda-strany-guzhvu-s-mezhdunarodnogo-rozyska.html|title=Суд Киева снял главреда "Страны" Гужву с международного розыска|publisher=UNIAN|website=unian.net|date=2019-06-27}}</ref> After President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came to power, "Strana.ua" continued to criticize the authorities and publish articles about corruption in power (in particular, the publication was the first to write about the practice of paying illegal salaries to deputies of the ruling faction ''Servant of the People'').<ref>{{cite web|url=https://strana.news/articles/rassledovania/229696-deputaty-sluhi-naroda-v-rade-nachali-poluchat-denhi-v-konvertakh-no-platjat-ne-vsem.html|title=Депутаты Слуги народа в Раде начали получать деньги в конвертах, но платят не всем|publisher=Strana.ua|date=2019-10-24}}</ref> The publication by the newspaper of photos of Zelenskyy on vacation with his family in Oman caused a wide public resonance.<ref>{{Cite web|language=ru|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4235801|title=Слетал себе в Оман|website=www.kommersant.ru|date=2020-01-30|access-date=2021-12-20}}</ref> As a result of the publication and public discussion, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) began an investigation into the failure of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to declare expenses for his trip to Oman.<ref>{{Cite web|language=ru|url=https://interfax.com.ua/news/political/641211.html|title=НАПК начало проверку по невнесению Зеленским в свою декларацию расходы на поездку в Оман|website=Interfax-Ukraine|access-date=2021-12-20}}</ref>
=== National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine sanctions ===
On August 20, 2021, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) decided to impose personal sanctions against the founder of ''Strana.ua'', Igor Guzhva, and directly affiliated legal entities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4955527|title=Зеленский ввел санкции против издания "Страна.ua" и нескольких человек|website=www.kommersant.ru|date=2021-08-21|access-date=2021-10-07|language=ru}}</ref><ref name="автоссылка1">{{Cite web|url=https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/12186891|title=Зеленский ввел в действие санкции против издания "Страна" и его главреда Гужвы|website=TASS|access-date=2021-10-07}}</ref> According to the NSDC Guzhva was "spreading pro-Russian propaganda."<ref name="31421149IHuzhva">{{Cite web|language=en|title=Ukraine Bans Website Accused Of 'Pro-Russian Propaganda'|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-sanctions-russia-derkach/31421149.html|website=Radio Free Europe|date=2021-08-21|access-date=2023-04-27}}</ref> After this, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on the implementation of this decision.<ref>{{Cite web|language=uk|url=https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/3762021-39745|title=УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №376/2021|website=Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України|access-date=2021-12-20}}</ref> The presidential decree stipulated the blocking of the ''Strana.ua'' website and the obligation of providers to close access to the site, as well as to the pages of the publication on social networks.<ref name="автоссылка1" /> The ''Strana.ua'' domain was blocked by the registrar company. The editorial board moved its Internet resource to the domain ''strana.news'' and subsequently created several more mirrors of the website (in particular, ''strana.today''). The National Commission for State Regulation in the Sphere of Communication and Information ordered all providers in Ukraine to block any mirrors of the Internet publication.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nkrzi.gov.ua/index.php?r=site/index&pg=99&id=2148&language=uk|title=Національна комісія, що здійснює державне регулювання у сфері зв`язку та інформатизації {{!}} Новини|website=nkrzi.gov.ua|access-date=2021-12-20}}</ref> Guzhva said that he intended to challenge in court the presidential decree on sanctions against him.<ref>{{Cite web|lang=ru-RU|url=https://www.dw.com/ru/ukraina-i-rossija-rasshirili-sankcii-drug-protiv-druga/a-58939130|title=Украина и Россия расширили санкции друг против друга |date=2021-08-21|website=Deutsche Welle |access-date=2021-10-07}}</ref> Igor Guzhva issued a statement in which he called the blocking of ''Strana.ua'' a legal uproar and extrajudicial punishment, as well as stated that sanctions against him and the ''Strana.ua'' publishing companies would not stop the work of the publication.
The head of the Union of Journalists of Ukraine, Serhiy Tomilenko, said in relation to the blocking that the extrajudicial blocking of opposition media operating in the Ukrainian legal framework is a rejection of legislative guarantees of the independence of the press from the authorities. The Council of Europe platform for the promotion of protection of journalism and safety of journalists has called the decision on sanctions and blocking of Strana.ua a threat to the media freedom in Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fom.coe.int/?p_p_id=sojdashboard_WAR_coesojportlet&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_pos=1&p_p_col_count=2&_sojdashboard_WAR_coesojportlet_alertId=105414653|title=Safety Of Journalists|website=fom.coe.int|access-date=2021-10-07}}</ref> The European Federation of Journalists issued a statement saying that the imposed sanctions are “a threat to the press, media freedom and pluralism in the country”.<ref>{{Cite web|lang=en-GB|url=https://europeanjournalists.org/blog/2021/08/26/ukraine-president-bans-opposition-media-strana-ua-and-sanctions-editor-in-chief/|title=Ukraine: President bans opposition media Strana.ua and sanctions editor-in-chief|author=laura|website=European Federation of Journalists|date=2021-08-26|access-date=2021-10-07}}</ref> OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro expressed concern over the sanctions and said that such restrictions “negatively affect the work of media companies and journalists”.<ref>{{Cite web|lang=en|url=https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/496339|title=OSCE Media Freedom Representative concerned about sanctions in Ukraine that endanger media freedom and free flow of information|website=osce.org|access-date=2021-10-07}}</ref>
In November 2021, the Supreme Court of Ukraine accepted for consideration Igor Guzhva's lawsuit challenging President Zelenskyy's decree imposing sanctions against him.<ref>{{Cite web|lang=ru|url=https://kp.ua/politics/a635551-hlavred-strany-huzhva-protiv-kotoroho-snbo-vvel-sanktsii-podal-v-sud-na-zelenskoh|title=Главред "Страны" Гужва, против которого СНБО ввел санкции, подал в суд на Зеленского|website=КП в Украине {{!}} КП в Україні {{!}} KP in Ukraine|access-date=2021-12-10}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guzhva, Igor}} Category:Living people Category:1974 births Category:People from Sloviansk Category:21st-century Ukrainian journalists Category:21st-century Ukrainian male journalists Category:Ukrainian media executives