Law On Criminal Liability Up To 12 Years In Prison For Complicity With Aggressor State Comes Into Force

 

The law on the introduction of criminal liability up to 12 years in prison for complicity with the aggressor state, with the proposals of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has come into force.

The corresponding document No. 2198-IX, signed by the President, was published in the Holos Ukrainy, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

Article 111-2 (complicity with the aggressor state) of the Criminal Code states that intentional actions aimed at helping the aggressor state (assistance), its armed formations and/or the occupation administration of the aggressor state, committed by a citizen of Ukraine, a foreigner or a stateless person, for with the exception of citizens of the aggressor state, for the purpose of causing harm to Ukraine are punishable by imprisonment for a term of 10 to 12 years with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for a term of 10 to 15 years and with or without confiscation of property.

These actions include:

- implementation or support of decisions and/or actions of the aggressor state, armed formations and/or occupation administration of the aggressor state;

- any cooperation, including the collection, preparation and/or transfer of material resources or other assets to representatives of the aggressor state, its armed formations and/or the occupying administration of the aggressor state;

Among the amendments, taking into account the amendments of the President, was the exclusion from the list of actions considered to be aimed at helping the aggressor country, the item "other voluntary interaction with representatives of the aggressor state, illegal authorities established in the temporarily occupied territory, including the occupation administration of the aggressor state" .

In his proposal, the President explained that this paragraph does not contain a clear definition of the content and nature of actions/inactions, meaning "other voluntary interaction", which can be qualified as aiding the aggressor state.

"The specified provisions of the law do not allow to determine with sufficient clarity what kind of actions are illegal, and this can lead to arbitrary interpretation and unequal application of the law in practice," the text of the President's proposals says.

Besides, in criminal proceedings for crimes under Article 111-2, a special pre-trial investigation may be carried out on the basis of a ruling by the investigating judge.

As Ukrainian News Agency reported, on April 14, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law introducing criminal liability of up to 12 years in prison for complicity with the aggressor state with the proposals of the President.

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