Criminal liability imposed for financing ‘separatism’

A law passed on June 19 envisages up to 5 years for financing action in breach of the Constitution aiming at changing Ukraine’s borders and up to 7 years for funding attempts to violently seize power

On June 19 the Verkhovna Rada adopted Law No. 4822 on amendments to the Criminal Code envisaging criminal liability for financing acts aimed at the violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order; seizure of state power; changes to Ukraine’s state borders and territory.  The law received 238 votes (with 226 needed for a majority).

The law introduces a new article [110-1] to the Criminal Code.  Financing actions aimed at changing Ukraine’s borders and territory in breach of the order established by Ukraine’s Constitution will carry terms of imprisonment from 3 to 5 years, together with a ban on holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities for up to 2 years, and confiscation of property.

Financing acts aimed at the violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order or at seizure of state power carry much stiffer sentences, from 5 to 7 years, with the same ban on holding office and confiscation of property.

The law also waives liability if a person, other than the leader of an organized group, before being officially informed that s/he is under suspicion, voluntarily provides information about the illegal activities and / or in any other way helps to prevent or stop such a crime.

It is widely believed that former president Viktor Yanukovych who is in hiding in Russia, together with other people close to him and his Party of the Regions, are providing huge amounts of money to pay for the Kremlin-backed militants in Donbas.