Activists protested against billionaire and museum patron Len Blavatnik On July 21 at Tate Modern in London. Members of the British-Israeli group WeDemocracy urged Blavatnik to “stop the attack on the free press,” referencing allegations of censorship at Channel 13, an Israeli broadcaster owned by the Ukrainian-born businessman.
A video posted on WeDemocracy’s Instagram page shows protestors gathered in front of a Tate building named after Blavatnik, which opened in 2016 following his £50 million donation to the institution.
“Blavatnik, don’t mess with freedom of the press!” the protestors chanted.
Blavatnik holds the majority stake in Channel 13 (Reshet Media) through his company, Access Industries. His influence over the channel’s programming has come under scrutiny following the appointment of former politician Yulia Shamalov-Berkovich as chief executive last month. According to a Guardian report, shortly after Shamalov-Berkovich’s appointment, an investigative news program known for its critical stance on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration was canceled.
Blavatnik is well-known in England for sponsoring institutions such as Tate and the Courtauld Institute of Art. However, Aviel Lewis, a London-based Israeli and member of WeDemocracy, told the Guardian that the public should be aware of Blavatnik’s involvement in “something that is clearly taking Israeli media years back and corrupting it.”
