Parliament’s anti-corruption committee on March 22 approved an amendment that will require activists of non-governmental organizations and editors of mass media to file electronic asset declarations.
The legislation is seen as an effort by the authorities to crack down on their critics and anti-corruption activists.
The amendment, which is opposed by Yegor Sobolev – chairman of the anti-corruption committee – was introduced by lawmaker Tetiana Chornovol from the People’s Front party. It was backed by Ivan Melnychuk, Oleg Barna, Tetiana Rychkova, Ihor Artyushenko, Andriy Nemyrovsky and Yury Buhlak from President Petro Poroshenko’s Bloc; Konstantyn Mateichenko and Yury Savchuk from the People’s Front; Ihor Popov from the Radical Party, Serhiy Dunayev from the Opposition Bloc and Mykhailo Lanyo from the Vidrodzhennya faction.
The amendment may be considered by parliament on March 23.
Vitaly Shabunin, head of the Anti-Corruption Action Center’s executive board, said on March 22 that the amendment would imply criminal penalties for civic activists and media editors.
The amendment will also block NGOs’ work and applies even to third parties cooperating with NGOs, including lessees, suppliers and printers, Shabunin argued.
