The Ukrainian parliament has passed a law on extremism.

The adopted law, which was drawn up by Vadym Kolesnichenko and Volodymyr Oliynyk, members of the Party of Regions faction, adds an article entitled 'Extremist Activities' to the Ukrainian Criminal Code.

The article provides that the production, storage with the purpose of selling or disseminating, and also the sale and dissemination of extremist materials, including via the mass media, the Internet, social networking sites, the use or demonstration of extremist materials to groups of people, the financing of such actions, or other assistance of their organization are punishable by a fine in the amount of 200 to 800 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens and the seizure of the extremist materials.

In the event of repeat offences, these actions are punishable by a fine in an amount of 1,000 to 3,000 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens, restriction of freedom for a period of up to three years, or up to three years in prison and seizure of the extremist materials.

The law defines extremist materials as documents on various carriers, which are intended for publication and contain extremist information, i.e., call for forcible changes or the overthrow of the constitutional system, encroachments on the territorial integrity, inviolability, or sovereignty of the state, or the forcible seizure or keeping of power.

Activities relating to illegal interference in the activities or impeding the lawful activities of public bodies, local self-government bodies, other authorities, election commissions, and pubic associations also fall into the category of extremist activities under this law.