MOSCOW, February 6. /TASS/. Chairman of the United Russia party, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has voiced support for Ukraine’s Opposition Platform - For Life party over its efforts against the censorship on three Ukrainian television channels, the United Russia press service said on Saturday after Medvedev’s phone conversation with Viktor Medvedchuk who heads the Ukrainian party’s Political Council.

"Dmitry Medvedev and Viktor Medvedchuk discussed the Ukrainian authorities’ steps to block broadcasting of the television channels and to impose sanctions on Taras Kozak, a member of the Verkhovna Rada from the Opposition Platform - For Life faction," the statement said.

According to the statement, in the phone call with Medvedchuk, Medvedev "voiced support for the efforts taken by the Ukrainian party to prevent the censorship from being imposed" on the 112 Ukraine, NewsOne and ZIK television channels.

"In the conversation they pointed out that [Ukrainian] President [Vladimir] Zelensky’s steps to block the opposition media have nothing in common with the European values declared by the Ukrainian authorities, which unconditionally include the freedom of expression," it said.

On Tuesday, Zelensky greenlighted sanctions slapped on three TV channels - 112 Ukraine, NewsOne and ZIK - and their owner, member of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada (parliament) Taras Kozak. These restrictions will be in effect for five years. These measures envisage annulling or suspending licenses as well as banning the use of Ukrainian TV and radio frequencies. Their assets are to be blocked, and their economic and financial liabilities to be frozen. The management will not be allowed to transfer financial assets to foreign countries, engage in transactions with securities and open accounts in foreign banks. On Tuesday night, the three channels went off air and are currently available only on YouTube.

The Opposition Platform - For Life party called an emergency congress that adopted a resolution to launch an impeachment proceeding against Zelensky.