Ukrainian Journalists Protest Defamation Bill
Published 1 October 2012
Some 100 Ukrainian journalists and media activists picketed the parliament in Kyiv on October 1, protesting against a defamation bill. The draft law backed by the ruling Party of the Regions proposes up to five years in jail for offenders. Parliament passed it in a first reading last month, but the bill was then put on hold after the opposition and independent media denounced it as part of a crackdown on freedom of speech in the run up to parliamentary elections on October 28.
1 Protesters outside parliament held empty posters to highlight their concerns about censorship and placards saying "Whatever People Think Of Government Is Defamation!"
2 Western governments have criticized President Viktor Yanukovych for backsliding on democracy and a trend toward greater authoritarianism since he came to power in February 2010.
3 The draft law, backed by the ruling Party of the Regions, proposes up to five years in jail for offenders.