Ukraine's Culture Ministry: We cannot remove fortune-tellers from telethon

Tarot cards for fortune-telling. Photo: risu.ua

The Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine has stated that it cannot influence the inclusion of stories about unproven medicine, esoteric practices, numerology, and psychics on national telethon “United News” broadcasts. This was reported by the Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU).

According to the report, Interfax-Ukraine sent an inquiry to the Ministry of Culture seeking clarity on the legality of broadcasting stories that promote unproven medicine, esoteric practices, numerology, psychics, fortune-tellers, tarot cards, and feng shui during the telethon.

In its response, representatives of the Ministry of Culture said: “We inform you that the Ministry cannot influence the professional activities of journalists and the editorial policies of media outlets, particularly regarding stories about alternative medicine, esoteric practices, numerology, psychics, etc., which are produced by television channels airing on the ‘United News’ telethon.”

The Ministry emphasized that the Constitution of Ukraine and laws prohibit censorship and unwarranted government interference in the activities of media entities and the professional work of journalists.

On January 6, the national telethon aired a segment titled “Astrological Forecast for 2025” during the broadcast slot of the 1+1 channel. In this segment, the channel’s correspondent interviewed psychics, astro-numerologists, and feng shui practitioners who used tarot cards and numerology to make predictions about the Ukrainian military’s counteroffensive, the de-occupation of territories, spring negotiations mediated by Donald Trump, and the signing of agreements.

The journalists in the segment did not question these esoteric practices, instead emphasizing, “Whether to believe these predictions or not is up to each individual to decide.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that General Zaluzhny shared how a fortune-teller predicted his involvement in a war with Russia.

Read also

Priest charged with desertion freed after faithful raise bail

Archpriest Vitaliy Agafonov, a cleric of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, has been released after bail was posted with funds raised by the faithful.

UOC clergy and laity from several eparchies donate blood for wounded soldiers

Clergy and Orthodox youth of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church donated blood for wounded military personnel.

UOC faithful in Kozelshchansk hold procession with icon of the Mother of God

Pilgrims and clergy of the Poltava Eparchy prayed at the Kozelshchansk Monastery and took part in a procession around the church with the wonderworking icon.

Hearing in Metropolitan Theodosiy’s сase postponed after “victim” no-show

A scheduled hearing at the Kyiv-Sviatoshyn Court in the case against the ruling bishop of the Cherkasy Eparchy was postponed after OCU chaplain Nazariy Zasansky failed to appear.

Ukraine’s Chief Rabbi: The time has come to build the Third Temple

The spiritual leader of Ukraine’s Jewish community commented on Tucker Carlson’s claims about the religious motives behind the war in the Middle East.

US bars removal of children from parents who reject gender transition

U.S. authorities have affirmed the right of families to raise their children in accordance with their religious convictions and biblical understanding of sex.