The Ukrainian government at a meeting on Sept. 4 approved a bill that foresees the introduction of criminal liability for theft of gas in the form of imprisonment for up to three years, Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers Ostap Semerak has said at a briefing in Kyiv.
“I would like to draw attention to the draft law, which has been approved by the Cabinet. It includes responsibility for the theft of gas. The alleged loss is observed during gas consumption in the situation with complicated gas supplies to the Ukrainian market, although it is blatant theft,” he said.
Semerak noted that earlier payment for gas embezzlement fell upon all taxpayers in Ukraine.
“I would like to bring in some interesting statistics. In 2013 such crimes were observed: in particular, 40 criminal cases were instituted, but only two of them were brought to court and the penalties handed down were not so strict,” he added.
