Ukraine toughens penalties for threatening officials

Ukraine may introduce up to 10 years in prison for threatening officials online

Ukraine has registered a draft law to increase criminal liability for threats to civil servants, MPs and public figures, including on the Internet. The document provides for significant changes to Article 346 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

What is proposed to be changed

According to the draft law, liability is established for:

Threats to officials

Threats murder, violence, harm to health, abduction, destruction of property or imprisonment, are expressed:

• orally or in writing

• via the Internet or by means of communication

• through photos, videos or demonstrations of weapons

in relation to senior state officials, heads of government agencies, judges, law enforcement officers, politicians, as well as their close relatives shall be punishable by imprisonment for a term of 5 to 8 years.

Calls for violence

Public appeals or incitement to murder, violence, theft or destruction of property against officials, including:

• via social media

• comments

• Distribution or endorsement of such materials

- provide for imprisonment from 6 to 10 years.

Physical violence

• Beatings, light and moderate bodily harm, committed in connection with state or public activities 7-10 years in prison.

• Serious bodily injury - 10-15 years in prison.

The most severe punishment

If such actions:

• committed during martial law

• realised repeatedly or by a group of persons

• accompanied by use of weapons and explosives

• have political motives or mass distribution through information technology

- The draft law provides for 10 to 15 years' imprisonment or life imprisonment.

Context.

The initiators of the draft law state that the document is aimed at Protection of state institutions and officials in a time of war, when threats and calls for violence are increasingly spread through social media and messengers.

At the same time, human rights activists are already drawing attention to the risks restriction of freedom of speech, In particular, the interpretation of the concepts of «threat» and «public appeal».