Human rights activist outraged by initiative to criminalise unlawful representation of the state
26 March 2024 18:28
EXCLUSIVE
Ukrainian human rights activist Eduard Bagirov believes that draft law #11104, which criminalises the misappropriation of state functions, violates a number of civil rights. He said this in an exclusive commentary to Komersant ukrainskyi 
The human rights activist emphasises the uncertainty of the concept of “representing the state”, which can lead to very sad consequences for socially active people.
“As a human rights activist, I am outraged by this draft law. Firstly, the penalties range from 15 years to life imprisonment… Secondly, it does not specify how the prosecutor’s office, investigative bodies or the court will be able to recognise a violation of the law in the form of representing the state… Since 2001, I have been the head of the International League for the Protection of the Rights of Ukrainian Citizens. I have addressed the heads of governments of EU countries and members of various parliaments dozens of times. That is, I have already committed dozens of criminal offences, and today I can be imprisoned for life,”
– said the expert.
He is convinced that the draft law restricts the civil rights of Ukrainians.
“This law, if adopted, will restrict the activities of NGOs, my fellow volunteers, and thus we will not even be able to communicate with government officials and experts from different countries. That is, it is a restriction of the rights of Ukrainian citizens. If this draft law becomes law, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian citizens can be imprisoned,”
– eduard Bagirov added.
Maryna Stavniychuk, PhD in Law, believes that the document in its current form has no prospects.
Draft law #11104, which establishes criminal liability for misappropriation of state functions, was registered by two MPs from the Servant of the People faction, Mariana Bezugla and Galina Tretyakova. The document proposes to establish criminal liability for misappropriation of state functions by a citizen, including “representation of Ukraine at international events”.
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