Yevpatoria cuts off TV channels 

KYIV – The main cable-television provider in the city of Yevpatoria, in the Ukrainian region of Crimea that was annexed by Russia in March 2014, has stopped distributing five Ukrainian television channels. According to a press release by the Elas cable operator on April 17, the 2+2, First National, STB, Ukraine, and Enter-Film channels were cut off because they do not have registration from the Russian government. Ukraine’s Inter + is now the only Ukrainian TV channel available in Yevpatoria. Earlier this month, the de facto Russian authorities in Crimea closed down the Crimean Tatar-language TV channel ATR in Symferopol after it was unable to secure registration despite applying for it repeatedly. Amnesty International called the closure of ATR and other Crimean Tatar media “a blatant attack on freedom of expression, dressed up as an administrative procedure” and “a crude attempt to stifle independent media.” (RFE/RL)