Poroshenko signs law to strengthen protection of journalists

President Petro Poroshenko has signed the law, which strengthens protection of professional activities of the journalists.

This is reported by the Presidential press service.

As stated, the law improves the legal framework in the field of protection of the journalists’ rights, introduces responsibility for the unlawful seizure of materials and technical resources of media workers and clarifies certain issues related to obstruction of their professional activities.

The document stipulates that the following activities shall be considered as obstruction of journalistic work:

– Illegal seizure of collected, processed, prepared by a journalist materials and technical equipment used in connection with professional activities;

– Illegal denial of access to information for a journalist;

– Illegal ban on coverage of certain topics, showing of certain individuals, criticism of authorities;

– Any other intentional obstruction of lawful professional activities of a journalist.

As a reminder, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed the law on the amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine (regarding improvement of protection of professional activities of the journalists) on February 4.