The International Press Institute (IPI) and its affiliate, the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), today condemned Ukrainian lawmakers’ approval of sweeping anti-protest legislation that would recriminalise libel and severely restrict freedom of expression and assembly.
Passed hastily and without debate yesterday by a show of lawmakers’ hands amid Opens external link in new windowscuffles on the floor of parliament, the package is aimed at ending protests which have gripped Kiev in the nearly two months since President Viktor Yanukovych froze plans to sign an association agreement with the European Union.
The legislation has drawn widespread criticism from press freedom and free expression monitors, European officials and the Opens external link in new windowU.S. State Department.
The EU’s ambassador to Ukraine, Opens external link in new windowJan Tombiński, commented: “Norms should be adopted through proper procedures. Otherwise the credibility of democratic institutions and of the legal system is at stake.” Swedish Foreign Minister Opens external link in new windowCarl Bildt, calling for EU foreign ministers to discuss the situation Monday, said on Twitter: “There can be no business as usual with Kiev.”
Both the representative on Freedom of the Media for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Opens external link in new windowDunja Mijatović, and European Parliament President Opens external link in new windowMartin Schulz urged Yanukovych to veto the bill.
IPI Senior Press Freedom Adviser Steven Ellis echoed those comments, adding: “The measures adopted severely undermine democracy in Ukraine. We call on governments around the world to make known to Ukraine’s leadership that these steps are unacceptable and we urge Ukrainian lawmakers to reverse course on this legislation.”
Opens external link in new windowBusiness News Europe, building on a list compiled from Tweets by freelance journalist Opens external link in new windowMaxim Tucker, reported that the “dictatorship bill” would, among other steps:
-Recriminalise libel and loosen rules on what constitutes libel;
-Allow the government to brand NGOs that receive foreign funding “foreign agents” and shut them down;
-Label any interference or obstruction of public authorities’ actions as “extremism”, and criminalise publishing any “extremist” information;
-Criminalise the publication of certain information about public officials and about police, including officers alleged to have committed human rights violations against demonstrators. The measure would also extend amnesty to police officers previously accused of such violations;
-Criminalise wearing a helmet at a protest and require those seeking to use props, a stage or sound broadcasting in connection with a protest to first seek authorities’ permission;
-Require television broadcasters and Internet providers in Ukraine to reapply for a new licence;
-Ban any convoys involving more than five vehicles and forbid blocking access to a residence;
-Force SIM card users to identify themselves and sign contracts with telecommunications providers, allowing greater surveillance over mobile communications users.
