The text of a bill of Petro Poroshenko on preventing the prosecution and punishment of persons who participated in events in Donetsk and Luhansk regions was published on the Web site of the Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday, Sept. 16.
According to the bill, it is proposed to exempt from criminal responsibility members of armed groups or persons involved in such groups, whom, in the period from Feb. 22, 2014 until the date of entry into force of this law, in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where an anti-terrorist operation was conducted, committed acts that contain elements of offenses under the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This provision also applies to persons who were involved in the activities of the self-proclaimed authorities in Donetsk and Luhansk regions or who opposed the holding of the anti-terrorist operation.
The draft law applies to persons if they, within a month from the date of entry into force of the law, release or do not hold hostages, voluntarily surrender to state agencies and do not store firearms, ammunition, military equipment, and do not occupy the premises of state and local government agencies.
It is also proposed to exempt from administrative liability persons who committed violations in the period from Feb. 22, 2014 in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where the anti-terrorist operation was conducted.
At the same time, the law does not apply to persons who are suspects, defendants and did not commit actions envisaged by Part 2, Article 1 of the law and/or are suspected (accused) of committing actions under Articles 112, 113, 115, Part 2, Article 121, Part 2, Article 147, Articles 149, 152, 153, 187, 201, 258, 297, 348, 349, 379, 400, 442, 443, 444 of the Criminal Code, or were convicted of offenses under these articles. The bill does not apply to individuals whose actions led to the crash of the Malaysia Airlines plane in Donetsk region on July 17, 2014 and/or who obstructed the investigation into the plane crash.
The law takes effect the day after it is published.
