07 April 2008, 15:15
The Bill (Reg. No.2086) supplements the Criminal Code of Ukraine with a new article 151-1 that establishes criminal liability for calumny. The author of the Bill regards calumny as "dissemination of misleading information that dishonours another person by an official of high or especially responsible standing".
However, the Committee members stated that Article 125 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine of Year 1960 already envisaged criminal liability for calumny. For lack of qualificatory signs, calumny was regarded as a crime with minor public danger, and relevant indictments were related to the private cases.
Therefore, the Committee members believe that "criminalization of such actions requires substantial argumentation".