Media workers and human rights defenders call on the Council not to adopt draft law №10242, which threatens the work of journalists
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- Darina Melnychuk
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20:33, 02 December, 2024
Media workers call on the Verkhovna Rada not to adopt draft law No. 10242. Illustrative photo: ShutterstockMedia and human rights organizations of Ukraine, as well as the media movement, urge people's deputies of Ukraine not to support them draft law №10242 in its current version. It poses significant threats to freedom of speech, work of journalists, protection of journalistic sources and whistleblowers of corruption in Ukraine.
This is stated in a joint statement, reports the Institute of Mass Information.
It is noted that the draft law strengthens and introduces criminal liability in the form of 8 years of imprisonment for placing in free access confidential information from public registers during martial law.
In addition, the draft law does not provide for any protection mechanisms for those who disclose confidential information of public importance.
Media experts believe that this bill creates a tool that can be used to persecute journalists. In particular, it opens the possibility for eavesdropping and surveillance of journalists.
«Under the guise of fighting 'data abuse', a tool is being created that can be used to prosecute journalists who cover corruption schemes or abuse of power,» the statement said.
The statement also added that examples of investigations, the authors of which can be prosecuted according to the provisions of this draft law, are materials about schemes for men to go abroad during martial law or about the enrichment of representatives of the prosecutor's office.
The authors of the statement call on international organizations and human rights defenders to participate in the evaluation of this draft law and express their position regarding its impact on freedom of speech in Ukraine.
The application is currently open for signatures, to join the signature, fill out the form.
We will remind you that the editorial office of the publication Ukrainska Pravda announced about systemic pressure from the Office of the President. For the team and individual journalists.