You're reading: Yanukovych says passing of slander bill at first reading was a mistake

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said that the passing at first reading of a bill toughening responsibility for slander was a mistake.

“You should understand that it was no accident that [Regions Party MP Vitaliy] Zhuravsky decided so [to withdraw the slander bill], as he heard my opinion and the opinions of his party colleagues… He wants to correct his own mistake. And the parliamentarians must have not understood the documents when they voted for them,” the president told Ukrainian journalists in New York on Tuesday, September 25.

According to the head of state, the authorities are paying special attention to the bills related to the fulfillment of Ukraine’s obligations to the Council of Europe.

“Ukraine should stick to European standards in all spheres,” Yanukovych said.

As reported, Regions Party parliamentary faction MP Vitaliy Zhuravsky has registered at parliament a draft instruction on the cancellation of a decision by the Verkhovna Rada to pass at first reading a bill on amendments to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine on toughening punishments for the infringement of the honor, dignity and business reputation of a person.