“This draft law continues to pose significant threats to freedom of speech, protection of journalistic sources and whistleblowers of corruption in Ukraine, the statement says”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
According to the statement, this draft law continues to pose significant threats to freedom of speech, the work of journalists, the protection of journalistic sources and whistleblowers of corruption in Ukraine.
“Its updated version, which was proposed for the vote, did not eliminate the risks that we highlighted in the previous statement of December 2, 2024. The draft law strengthens criminal liability for unauthorized distribution of confidential information. By this, the legislator means placing confidential information from public registers in free access, or other actions that create the possibility of free access to such information by an unspecified circle of persons,” say media people.
It is emphasized that the draft law does not take into account comments regarding the need to introduce protection mechanisms for persons who disclose confidential information in the public interest, in particular, journalists and whistleblowers of corruption.
“Despite the reduction of the corresponding sanction, the proposed punishment of up to 5 years of imprisonment for similar actions during the legal regime of martial law remains disproportionate. Although such a maximum sanction and the classification of the crime as not serious does not allow the use of covert investigative actions against journalists, such as wiretapping and surveillance, this tool can still be used to prosecute journalists for investigations that are uncomfortable for representatives of the authorities,” the statement reads.
Read also: Mediarukh called on the Council not to support draft law No. 10242 – “poses threats to freedom of speech”
On Tuesday, December 17, the Council’s committee on law enforcement for the second time supported draft law No. 10242 for re-reading, People’s Deputy from the “Voice” faction Yaroslav Zheleznyak reported. According to him, the project still has regulations that can limit the activities of journalists.
Earlier, Zheleznyak wrote that the law could be adopted this week, and added that he, together with other deputies, would block the vote if 1,600 amendments were submitted to the draft law.
On December 4, deputies did not support and sent for a repeated second reading draft law No. 10242 on strengthening criminal liability for the dissemination of information from electronic registers, which, according to journalists, threatens freedom of speech and the fight against corruption.
Draft Law No. 10242 provides for “amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine regarding the establishment of criminal liability for unauthorized interference, sale or distribution of information processed in public electronic registers and strengthening criminal liability during martial law for criminal offenses in the use of information and communication systems” . The document was registered in the parliament on November 9, 2023 and is currently being prepared for a repeated second reading.