You're reading: Ukrainian government offers introduce criminal liability for gas theft

The Cabinet of Ministers has introduced at the Verkhovna Rada a bill on criminal liability for the theft of natural gas, the parliament has reported in a posting on its Web site.

Bill No. 11012 was registered on July 19. Now it is being considered by the committee.

According to the law, fines, correctional labor or imprisonment,
which earlier were foreseen only for the theft of electrical and heat
energy, now will apply to the theft of the natural gas.

As the explanatory note reads, the law is aimed at establishing
liability to prevent the misappropriation of the natural gas and prevent
crimes.

Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Boyko will present the bill in parliament.