Internet is Free in Ukraine, Says Global Study

KYIV, Ukraine, September 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

A United States advocacy group has rated the Internet in Ukraine as "free" in a new report, grouping the country in the same category as Germany and the United Kingdom.

The global survey 'Freedom on the Net 2012', released this week, ranked Ukraine 12th in the world in Internet freedom.

"As we are approaching parliamentary elections in late October, this survey reaffirms Ukraine's position as a hub of online freedom in the region, with our citizens able to access an Internet that is as free as countries in Western Europe," said Oleg Voloshyn, the spokesperson of Ukraine's Foreign Ministry.

The study covers 47 countries in six geographical regions, and was conducted by Washington-based Freedom House between January 2011 and May 2012.

This is the organisation's third report in a series that began in 2009. By creating a numerical index that ranks each country, Freedom House has provided a comprehensive study of Internet freedom around the globe.

According to Freedom House, "The index does not rate governments or government performance per se, but rather the real-world rights and freedoms enjoyed by individuals within each country."

The report measured each country's level of Internet and digital media freedom, with every country receiving a numerical score from 0 (the most free) to 100 (the least free). Ukraine achieved a score of 27 points, close to the UK's 25 points.

In fact, Ukraine has been found to have the same limits on online content as the UK (8 points) and, more importantly, less violation of user rights than the UK (12 points compared to the UK's 16).

Ukraine's Internet has also been ranked as the freest in Eurasia, far ahead of countries such as Georgia (30 points), Turkey (46 points) and Russia (52 points).

The report shows that the Ukraine government has put in place an enabling environment that is comparable to the West.

With its citizens enjoying an online world with less obstacles to access, less limits on online content, and less violation of user rights than many other elected democracies, Ukraine falls into an enviable group of countries that include the United States, Germany, Australia and the UK.