Nataliya NECHAYEVA-YURIYCHUK, PhD^

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Abstract. In this article the author analyzes Ukrainian electronic media’s activity during the Russian-Georgian war in August 2008. News resistance between Russia and Georgia was reflected in Ukrainian on-line editions and TV news. On author’s opinion, Ukrainian electronic media didn’t fully disclose the nature of the conflict, its reasons, and possible consequences for Ukraine. TV news needed more information concerning background of the conflict, experts evaluation, comments etc. So, on authors thought, Ukrainian electronic media left repeater of Russia, Georgia and West position, but not the Ukrainian ”six power”, which has own position on the event.

Keywords: electronic media, information, on-line edition, geopolitical realities, information resources, Russian Federation, Georgia

Ukrainian society reaction on the conflict and official Kyiv statements was presented fully in TV news. In news stories were shown those who supported the President V. Yushchenko, and those who had come to the meetings in support of Russia. Thus the Ukrainian television media had managed to harmonize information concerning the position of Ukraine in this question. It became obvious that Ukrainian society, in spite of authorities’ statements, has no common position in ”Caucasus question”. Part of the society was in favor of official position and supported Georgia; another part was much more loyal to Russia and trusted into Russian Federation version of Caucasus events.

The theme of Caucasus war remained as a priority one also on August, 13, after the declaration of peace. During that time the deeper understanding of the events in the Caucasus took place. Ukrainian TV worked a lot with Ukrainian politicians who were trying to present their own position in this issue. The war has pushed journalist to update the problem of dual citizenship in Crimea; and accordingly the possibility of repetition of such scenario in Ukraine. ”1+1” channel presented the story about the owners of Russian passports in Crimea without definitive conclusions¹.

Right now we see that the Georgian scenario was really repeated in Ukraine and it is pity that Ukrainian authorities and especially Ukrainian political elite didn’t make appropriate conclusions from Russian-Georgian war in 2008. As a result, Ukraine lost Crimea and has ”hot point” in Eastern border. But to be honest, a number of journalists, experts, and civic activists tried to draw attention to the problem of dual citizenship (which is still actual for Ukraine), Russian aggressive policy etc.

Thereby, the war between Russian Federation and Georgia in August, 2008 and information confrontation between these two states was reflected in Ukrainian electronic media. While Ukrainian online editions used a lot of Russian sources in the early days of the war, Ukrainian TV news demonstrated the tendency to more moderate and balanced coverage of them. At the same time it is necessary to point out that it was rather difficult for Ukrainian media to develop their own position and own vision of the conflict. There were a number of reasons of that, for example, the language barrier, the position of the owner, the editorial policy, the uncertain official policy etc. But in our opinion, in 2008 Ukrainian audience didn’t receive the clear vision of the events in the Caucasus, their prehistory, background and geopolitical importance for Ukraine. Future events in Ukraine proved that both authority and media had to pay more attention to the Caucasus events, develop a clear position toward them and share it between people.