Adopted the Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Article 259 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine on Strengthening Liability for Knowingly False Reporting of a Threat to the Safety of Citizens”

Information Department of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariat
02 March 2021, 12:45

The purpose of the Law of Ukraine No. 3911 “On Amendments to Article 259 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine on Strengthening Liability for Knowingly False Reporting of a Threat to the Safety of Citizens” is to significantly reduce the number of knowingly false reports about threats to public safety, destruction or damage to property, as well as to save material and other resources of public authorities used to verify them and eliminate the negative consequences of false information disseminating.

According to the National Police in 2019, investigators have launched a pre-trial investigation of about 2,000 criminal offenses under Article 259 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which is twice as many as in 2018.

The law proposes to establish increased criminal liability for acts if the objects of knowingly false information are critical important infrastructure objects or facilities or structures that support the activities of public authorities, or health care facilities, or educational institutions.