European satellites broadcast Ukrainian TV channels to Crimea
The population of Crimea is presently viewing Ukrainian television channels via a satellite owned by a number of European companies. At the same time, Crimean TV stations are trying to retransmit their programs through less popular satellites due to the current economic sanctions.
The Adviser to the Minister on the Crimean Information Policy, Emine Jeppar, commented on the matter.
“The Ministry on the Crimean Information Policy is aware of the issue of the channel retransmission by the occupation authorities of Crimea via the ABS 2 satellite. We know that the company that owns this satellite is registered in Bermuda. The satellite itself is not popular is Ukraine. Ukrainian television is more compatible with Astra 4a (Sirius), which is also owned by European companies. However, Crimean channels will not be able to the reach the signal from such satellites due to the current sanctions. This is why Ukrainian TV channels are being broadcast via popular satellites to Crimea,” Jeppar said.
On the 3rd of February, the Deputy Prime Minister of Internal Policy, Information and Communication of the Russian Government of Crimea, Dmitry Polonsky, reported about the beginning of broadcasting of the TV channel, Crimea 24, via the ABS 2 satellite. He also noted that this broadcast will cover the entire territory of Ukraine.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine officially declared the beginning of temporary occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia on the 20th of February 2014. On the 7th of October 2015, the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, signed the law. International organizations have determined the annexation and occupation of Crimea to be illegal and have condemned Russia’s actions. Western countries have also imposed various economic sanctions. Russia has denied its occupation of the peninsula and instead refers to it as the “restoration of historical justice.”