Petition urging Zelensky to talk to independent media registered on 6th attempt, gains 7,000 signatures in a day

An online petition, created by activist Anna Repina on August 27, has been registered for the sixth time, urging President Volodymyr Zelensky to hold an open press conference with representatives of independent and socially responsible media. The petition, which calls for journalists to ask Zelensky questions without prior approval of their content, gained 7,000 signatures in just one day.

Repina was not surprised by her petition's rejection, as at least five similar requests had been turned down in the past week. She told the Kyiv Independent that without continuous effort, there are no results; if the authorities ignore them, it only makes their movement more widespread.

Danylo Mokryk, Kyiv Independent's War Crime Investigative reporter, filed the first petition on August 18, following President Zelensky's government reshuffle, the dismissal of popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, street protests, and the appointment of a new minister without public hearing. Protests erupted across the country, with the largest demonstrations since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Zelensky has not held a major press conference with independent media since early 2025, preferring exclusive interviews with foreign media outlets. Critics argue that this behavior undermines the relationship between Ukrainians and their government and the free press.

Mokryk's petition was rejected, but he had previously seen success with a similar appeal in 2021, which resulted in the president submitting a bill to the Verkhovna Rada. As of publication, Repina's petition had surpassed 7,000 signatures, requiring 25,000 within three months for official review by the authorities.