Yurchyshyn says bill No. 12320 is an attack on freedom of speech

Photo by Yaroslav Yurchyshyn on Facebook

Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech (Holos faction) considers the bill No. 12320, recently adopted by the parliament, to be an attack on freedom of speech, as per his Facebook post.

“The Rada adopted an absolutely criminal bill. No. 12320 is a real attack on freedom of speech. It proposes to fine citizens and officials for publicly identifying a lawyer with their client. Even if there is no goal to interfere with the lawyer’s work. That means that, if you say publicly (in the media, social media, blogpost, comment, repost, etc.) that such and such a person is the lawyer of, say, Boyko or Dubinskyi, you will be fined for it. UAH 3,400 to 5,100 for regular citizens and UAH 5,100 to 6,800 for officials,” he wrote.

Yurchyshyn emphasized that he views the bill as an attempt to restrict freedom of speech.

The MP supported the initiative by Anastasia Radina, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy (the "Servant of the People" faction), to issue a blocking resolution.

He also intends to address international partners with a request to assess the bill; if it is signed into effect nonetheless, he will appeal to the President with a veto proposal.

As reported earlier, on July 16, the Verkhovna Rada adopted in the second reading bill No. 12320, which stipulates fines for identifying lawyers with their clients.