Libel law

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  Offensive truths

  March 25, 2013, 6:42 p.m.

   First Deputy Prosecutor General Renat Kuzmin wants to criminalize “defamation,” which, unlike libel, can include true statements. At least within shooting range of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, this would silence all those unpleasant accusations of selective justice, judicial dependence and dubious court rulings.

  Op-ed – by Halya Coynash
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  Attempt to criminalize libel, defamation resurfaces

  March 21, 2013, 11:07 p.m.

  After public pressure killed an attempt in parliament to criminalize libel last October, many on both sides warned the battle was not over. Those forecasts appear to be coming true. 

  Ukraine – by Vlad Lavrov
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  International Federation of Journalists urges Ukraine not to criminalize slander

  March 21, 2013, 6:48 p.m.

  International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) have cautioned Ukraine against a new attempt to introduce criminal liability for slander. 

  Ukraine – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  EurActiv.com: Russian and Ukrainian journalists send SOS to Brussels

  Nov. 27, 2012, 11:32 a.m.

  Media activists from Russia and the Ukraine called for urgent EU and civil society help to protect press freedom in their counties at a public meeting held in Brussels on Nov. 26. They proposed establishing an international Pen Centre, holding “mega-forums” and adopting charts, similar to those used in the run-up to the Helsinki process.

  Ukraine abroad – by EurActiv.com
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  EU ambassador says there is no censorship in Ukraine

  Oct. 16, 2012, 2:48 p.m.

  Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Jan Tombinski has said that there is no censorship in Ukraine, although there are problems with the expression of opinion by citizens in the media. 

  Ukraine – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  Lawmakers reverse themselves on Oct. 2 to kill criminal libel law

  Oct. 4, 2012, 11:11 p.m.

  Bowing to international criticism, 349 lawmakers out of 450 in the Verkhovna Rada voted on Oct. 2 to rescind a draconian libel law that would have imprisoned journalists for defamation.

  Ukraine – by Kyiv Post Staff
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  Brussels welcomes scrapping of libel bill by Rada

  Oct. 3, 2012, 11:02 a.m.

  BRUSSELS – Concerns have eased in the European Union over Ukraine's plans to criminalize libel, as the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, cancelled its decision to pass the bill at first reading.

  Ukraine – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  Ukrainian president hails parliament's decision to cancel libel bill

  Oct. 2, 2012, 7:14 p.m.

  Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has welcomed parliament's decision to cancel a draft law introducing amendments to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine concerning the tightening of responsibility for infringement on honor, dignity and business reputation, which was earlier passed at first reading.

  Ukraine – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  Lawmakers overwhelmingly rescind libel law on Oct. 2

  Oct. 2, 2012, 10:25 a.m.

  A total of 349 lawmakers out of 450 in the Verkhovna Rada voted this morning to rescind a draconian libel law that would have imprisoned journalists for defamation. The reversal comes two weeks after a majority in the same body -- 244 lawmakers -- voted for the legislation in the first reading.

  Lawmakers backed down in the face of overwhelming international and domestic criticism, including from President Viktor Yanukovych, after his pro-presidential Party of Regions supported the law along with the Communist Party and members of Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn's bloc.

  "I consider this a victory of civil society and journalists in particular," said Arseniy Yatseniuk, the opposition leader. He also said that he rescheduled a meeting with Yulia Tymoshenko to make it to the vote. The jailed former prime minister is now in a Kharkiv hospital, where she is being treated for spinal hernia.

  Ukraine – by Kyiv Post Staff
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  Media: Protest against slander bill to continue on Oct.2

  Oct. 2, 2012, 8:39 a.m.

  On October 2 journalists and citizens will stage the second protest against bill No. 11013 on the criminalization of slander authored by Regions Party parliamentary faction MP Vitaliy Zhuravsky.

  Ukraine – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  Freedom House calls on Rada to put stop to defamation bill

  Oct. 2, 2012, 8:15 a.m.

  The international non-governmental organization Freedom House has condemned the defamation bill and called on the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, to remove the bill from the agenda.

  Ukraine – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  Akhmetov proposes to improve libel law according to international standards

  Oct. 1, 2012, 6:32 p.m.

  Famous Ukrainian businessman Rinat Akhmetov has offered to involve Ukrainian and international experts in improving the law on the protection of the honor and dignity of citizens.

  Ukraine – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  Rada to take decision on Oct.2 to cancel bill criminalizing slander

  Oct. 1, 2012, 1:55 p.m.

   The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, will consider on Tuesday the question of canceling a bill on criminal liability for slander, Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn has said.

  Politics – by Interfax-Ukraine
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  Ukraine journalists protest defamation bill

  Oct. 1, 2012, 1:52 p.m.

  Ukrainian journalists have protested outside the country's parliament against a bill they fear will be used to muzzle the media, holding up empty posters to highlight their concerns about censorship.

  Ukraine – by Associated Press
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  Global Voices: Ukraine protesting the controversial defamation bill

  Sept. 29, 2012, 9:06 a.m.

  A draft law that calls for penalties of up to five years in jail for defamation passed a first reading in the Ukrainian Parliament on Sep. 18, with 244 MPs from the ruling Party of Regions and their allies voting in its favor.

  Ukraine abroad – by Kyiv Post