Fact-Check: Tulsi Gabbard’s False Claims On Ukraine’s Democracy, Church and Media Restrictions

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard falsely claimed that Ukraine is restricting democratic freedoms, citing the closure of churches, the cancellation of elections, and government control over the media. Speaking to Fox News on March 3, Gabbard framed these developments as part of a broader trend among European nations that, she argued, are allegedly veering away from democratic principles.

“Churches are closing in Ukraine, elections are canceled, and the government fully controls the media,” Gabbard said, without specifying sources for her assertions.

On churches

Ukraine has not shut down churches but has restricted the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) due to its ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, which has backed the invasion. That alignment, on full display, when Vladimir Putin visited the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Russia and requested his initials be engraved on the chains of crosses destined for Russian soldiers. During the visit, Patriarch Kirill also blessed the crosses and icons, further cementing the church’s role.

On elections

Elections in Ukraine are postponed under martial law, as required by the Constitution, a measure historically taken by countries at war, including the U.S. and the U.K. With millions displaced and occupied territories preventing fair voting, officials have signaled openness to elections if conditions allow.

Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy’s trust rating throughout 2024 according to a Razumkov Center poll in June placed it at 54%, down from 69% at the start of the year. In May, the KIIS reported 59%, while a fall survey by Razumkov found 51%—still the highest among Ukrainian government institutions.

On media control

Ukraine’s media landscape operates under strict wartime regulations, including a unified telethon aimed at countering Russian disinformation. Despite these restrictions, independent outlets such as Ukrainska Pravda and The Kyiv Independent continue to provide free reporting, often offering critical coverage of the government.

Earlier, after a heated exchange between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, Russian officials and state media reacted with apparent satisfaction. Zelenskyy cut his visit short, and the confrontation was widely covered by Russian government representatives and media outlets.