Proposed law would increase liability for propagandizing Nazism

A National Deputy from the BYuT [Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc) Oleksandr Feldman has prepared and tabled in the Verkhovna Rada a draft law “On liability for publicly praising and propagandizing Nazism and discriminatory ideology".

The draft law aims to clearly define what is meant by Nazism and discriminatory ideology, and differentiate between activities aimed at praising or propagandizing these ills from those which do in fact condemn them.  The draft Law proposes a differential approach to administrative and criminal liability for propagandizing Nazism and would in the first instance affect the Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Offences.

 For example, public demonstration, preparation, sale or purchase of attributes, symbols, printed or audiovisual material on Nazism and discriminatory ideology would be subject to fines ranging from 20 to 200 times the average wage before tax (or in today’s terms from 340 to 3400 UAH).  However creation of an organization for the purpose of propagandizing Nazism or taking part in it would be punishable by terms of imprisonment from 2 to 5 years. If the actions of such organizations had resulted in death or other serious consequences, the sentences would range from 3 to 7 years.