Protecting free speech and other rights should be the measure for Ukraine

Zelenskyy Bans Opposition Parties in Ukraine in Blow to Free Speech – JONATHAN TURLEY https://t.co/1BCwjyV5WQ

— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 21, 2022

Legal scholar Jonathan Turley writes, “The country has struggled with free speech guarantees. Political opponents like Viktor Medvedchuk were put under house arrest by Zelenskyy (he later escaped). Zelenskyy also previously banned opposing television channels.

I recognize that it must be infuriating to watch parties expressly or tacitly support an invading power. Yet, that is precisely what should distinguish Ukraine from Russia at this historic moment. Putin supporters will, of course, miss that distinction. They will use their freedoms to seek to deny the freedoms of their fellow citizens. However, they should not be the measure of Ukraine. Free speech and other rights should be the measure.

Ukraine is not the first country to strike out at dissenters in wartime. This country has had its own checkered history in arresting those who opposed our wars. We were wrong then and Zelenskyy is wrong now.”

Read the entire column.