17 May 2010, 15:59
Mykola Tomenko: There is no Provision on Calumny in the Legislation of any Democratic Country
"There is no provision on calumny in the legislation of any democratic country", Mykola Tomenko, the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stated, giving comments regarding the bill, registered in the Parliament submitted by the representative of the Party of Regions, that implements the criminal liability for calumny.
M. Tomenko emphasised that he is aware of "desire of the authority to open criminal cases against opposition and journalists under the aegis of "calumny." "If we managed to prove that it is a medieval norm in the times of L. Kuchma, I hope that now the Parliamentarians will not uphold the adoption of the bill", M. Tomenko declared.
Moreover, the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stated that if they decide to pass such a norm, it should be done together with the number of other innovations. "For example they can suggest defining of the Internet sites that are supposed to be visited by the citizens of Ukraine and internet sited that are supposed to be prohibited", he added.