Ukraine Cautioned Against New Slander Law
Two independent journalist organizations are warning Ukraine against its the introduction of the country’s new law criminalizing slander. The country’s deputy prosecutor general plans to make slander a crime in Ukraine. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) say criminal laws on slander are “disproportional,” and have a “restrictive effect for the readiness and ability of the journalists to do their job effectively,” reports Kyiv Post.
Defamation, which includes slander and libel (both written and oral), is criminalized in Thailand. Find Thailand defamation lawyers here.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych also criticized the bill against slander. A similar protest in late 2012 evoked similar protests from the media and journalists.
Related blog posts: The Singaporean Dissident Lawyer
Flickr photo courtesy of Fred Vom Jupiter
