In this image from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks from Kyiv, Ukraine, early Sunday, March 20, 2022. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office
* Ukrainian government has outlawed 11 opposition parties with 'links to Russia'
* Oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk is the leader of the biggest of the 11 banned parties
* Medvedchuk is so close to the Kremlin that Putin is his daughter's godfather
* The pro-Russian party leader was imprisoned by Ukraine in 2021 for 'treason'
* The crackdown on opposition parties follows a ban on private news media
Volodymyr Zelensky's government has suspended 11 Ukrainian political parties because of their alleged links with Russia.
The decision was taken by the Ukrainian national security and defence council, and although 10 of the 11 were small parties, one - the Opposition Platform for Life - holds 44 of the 450 seats in Ukraine's parliament, according to The Guardian.
At the same time, Zelensky signed a decree on Sunday to merge all national TV channels into a single government-run service - effectively ending the operation of private TV media.
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WNU Editor: This is just formalizing what has been happening before the Russian invasion. Viktor Medvedchuk is the leader of the Opposition Platform for Life party, and he was put under house arrest by Zelensky's government last year on charges of treason.
Update: News in Ukraine has been nationalized .... Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky Combines All National TV Channels To Combat Alleged ‘Misinformation’ (Deadline).
Ukraine President Zelensky Bans 11 Opposition Political Parties With Ties To
Ukraine suspends 11 political parties with links to Russia -- The Guardian
Zelensky says Ukrainian political parties linked to Russia to be banned -- The Hill
Zelenskyy suspends Ukrainian opposition parties with 'ties' to Russia, warns of 'harsh response' if they don't comply with ban -- Business Insider
Zelensky announces ban on 11 Ukrainian political parties with ties to Russia -- Axios