KIEV, July 13 – The Batkivshchyna Party regards the criminal proceedings launched by the Ukrainian tax police against CEO of the TVi channel Mykola Kniazhytsky as an attempt to introduce censorship at the channel and restrict the freedom of speech in the country.

The press service of the opposition party reported Thursday evening that the opposition would do its utmost to prevent the curtailment of the freedom of speech in Ukraine. "We are ready to offer a helping hand to Kniazhytsky and the journalists of TVi channel. At the same time we are addressing all international organization, OSCE, PACE, EU countries to increase international pressure on the incumbent regime of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to prevent the introduction of political censorship in the country," the party statement says.