Just for the context GUR is Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Agency. Practically like the CIA is in the US.


The relevant part, translated:

BBC: You recently spoke about Telegram being a problem for Ukraine.

Kyrylo Budanov: I can repeat that again for you. It is a huge problem.

BBC: And what can be done about it?

Kyrylo Budanov: Or, as they say, to put it in order - at least legally force everyone to register, so it is clear who is behind which media resource, and Telegram has already definitely acquired the status of media. There is no question of influence or pressure - the issue is not about that. If you want to promote your position - and it may not please someone and that is normal in a democratic society - take responsibility. What are you afraid to say who you are?

BBC: So you’re talking about anonymous Telegram channels?

Kyrylo Budanov: They are all anonymous. Do you know a single Telegram channel that openly said I am this person? That’s the answer.

BBC: Could their closure become a solution to this problem? Blocking?

Kyrylo Budanov: Temporarily yes, but I still believe they need to be forced to register. This will not be pressure on the press. In a democratic society, I say again, you cannot simply exert pressure…

Why am I even telling you this? You are a media representative. Would you be very happy if someone came to you and said: that’s it, from now on you write like this? Of course, that would be abnormal. But being afraid to say who you are is also wrong. And throwing anything into the ether on behalf of an anonymous person, excuse me, paid from completely different parts of the world is also abnormal.


“We’re not pressuring them, we are merely holding them accountable”

    • moreeni@lemm.eeOP
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      6 months ago

      Dude, I live here, ofc I am. The Maidan merely helped a group of pro-Western oligarchy shift power on their side from the pro-Russian oligarchy. It didn’t solve corruption, it didn’t solve the problems, it didn’t help the economy etc.

      • LWD@lemm.ee
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        6 months ago

        It removed a Russian puppet leader. Now there is no foreign puppet in charge of the country. This alone is a huge change, doesn’t sound like it’s “merely” a shift.

        Edit: more significant than even I thought.

        Using LGBT rights and antisemitism (and even censorship!) as a metric, I’m pretty sure you would agree that leaning towards “pro western” values is preferable to what Russia is doing in their country and to their puppet states.