Kravchuk Details Priorities as New PACE Media Subcommittee Chair

Ukrainian MP to Lead PACE Media Subcommittee, Focusing on Journalist Safety and Disinformation

Ukrainian parliamentarian Yevheniia Kravchuk has been elected as the chair of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) subcommittee on media, where she plans to champion journalist safety, hold Russia accountable for crimes against media workers, and develop strategies to combat disinformation.

Speaking to Ukrinform on the sidelines of the PACE session in Strasbourg, Kravchuk outlined her priorities for the role, emphasizing the subcommittee’s broad mandate that extends beyond journalist protection.

“This is a very important subcommittee within the Committee on Culture and Information Society, which covers not only the issue of the safety of journalists and the functioning of the media in a democratic society in general, but also issues such as social online platforms. Specifically, how such platforms should be regulated,” Kravchuk explained.

The Ukrainian MP highlighted her commitment to investigating Russia’s crimes against journalists, including those killed, wounded, or illegally detained during the ongoing conflict. This focus comes amid increasing international concern about the targeting of media professionals in conflict zones, particularly in Ukraine where dozens of journalists have been affected since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.

Combating disinformation represents another key priority for Kravchuk’s leadership, particularly relevant as the Council of Europe works on developing a new convention specifically targeting disinformation campaigns. The Ukrainian lawmaker stressed the urgency of implementing effective tools against false information.

“It is clear that tools are needed here and now, and the Council of Europe should use our experience in this fight,” she said. “Ukraine is facing enormous challenges now, during the war. And the issue of social media, including Telegram, is more acute than in Western European countries.”

Kravchuk pointed to Moldova as an exemplary case study in successfully countering Russian disinformation, particularly during recent electoral processes. Moldova’s effectiveness in this area has elevated the issue to the international stage, with the country now chairing the Council of Europe and making disinformation a policy priority.

“Moldova, which currently chairs the Council of Europe, has identified the fight against disinformation and interference in elections by undemocratic countries such as Russia as one of its priorities,” Kravchuk noted. Moldova will host a ministerial conference in Chisinau this March dedicated to the issue.

The problem of electoral interference through disinformation campaigns has become a significant concern across Europe, with several countries reporting suspected Russian influence operations in their democratic processes. This has created common ground among delegates from various nations seeking collaborative solutions.

Kravchuk’s appointment comes alongside several other Ukrainian parliamentarians taking key positions within PACE. Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk congratulated the Ukrainian delegation on these appointments, which include Maria Mezentseva-Fedorenko becoming Vice-President of PACE, Serhiy Vlasenko heading the Committee on the Election of Judges of the European Court of Human Rights, Yuliia Ovchinnikova being elected Deputy Chair of the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, and Yelyzaveta Yasko elected as Deputy Chair of the Committee on the New Democratic Pact.

These appointments reflect Ukraine’s increasing influence within European institutions despite the ongoing war. They also indicate a growing recognition of Ukraine’s frontline experience in addressing challenges like disinformation and media freedom under extreme conditions, expertise that could prove valuable for other European nations facing similar, if less intense, challenges.