The Verkhovna Rada voted in the first reading for the draft law, which proposes to tighten the penalties for obstructing the activities of journalists. Violators may receive up to 14 years in prison for repeated offenses against representatives of this profession.
4 People's Deputies voted for the relevant decision at the meeting on Wednesday, November 305.
According to the draft law, the fine for the illegal seizure of materials or technical equipment belonging to journalists, as well as for the denial of access to information, the imposition of a ban on covering any events and criticizing certain persons to a representative of the mass media will amount to between 8,5 thousand and 17 thousand hryvnias. The current version of the law provides for a penalty of 850 hryvnias. The term of imprisonment for this violation is proposed to remain the same — up to 6 months.
The initiative also suggests an increase in the fine for stalking a journalist. It can range from 17 to 34 hryvnias.
At the same time, if the above-mentioned crimes were committed by an official using his official position or by collusion with a group of persons, the bill provides for a fine of 34 to 51 hryvnias.
In addition, the authors of the initiative propose to expand responsibility under article 345 "Threats or violence against a journalist" of the Criminal Code. According to the proposed amendments, punishment in the form of deprivation of liberty from 7 to 14 years can be imposed not only on members of an organized group, but also on repeated commission of illegal actions against media workers.
