The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has supported a bill № 3633 on strengthening the responsibility for attacks on journalists in the second reading. 341 MPs voted in its favour.
The online broadcast was provided by 112 Ukraine TV channel.
Influencing a journalist’s activities in any form in order to prevent him/her from performing his professional duties or harassing a journalist in connection with his lawful professional activities - shall be punishable by a fine of 17,000 to 34,000 hryvnias (606-1,212 dollars) or an arrest for up to 6 months, or a restraint for up to 4 years.
This law shall enter into force on the day following the day of its official publication.
As we reported earlier, 50 journalists were killed all over the globe in 2020. The majority of the cases took place in countries, where no military conflicts are currently observed.
“Reporters Without Borders tallied 50 cases of journalists killed in connection with their work from 1 January to 15 December 2020, a number similar to 2019 (when 53 journalists were killed), although fewer journalists have been in the field this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic,” reads the message.
