Regions Party parliamentary faction MP Vitaliy Zhutavsky, who is the author of a bill on criminalization of libel, which was passed earlier at first reading, has thanked the journalists and people's deputies that supported his proposal to cancel the document.

"We discussed the issue for two weeks. Then I submitted the draft instruction [on the cancellation of the libel bill that was passed at first reading]. I would like to thank all people's deputies for their support. The issue has been removed from the agenda. Full stop. And thank you," Zhuravsky told journalists at a news briefing outside the building of the Ukrainian parliament on Tuesday.

After these words the MP left the briefing and refused to answer journalists' questions.

As reported, the Verkhovna Rada has cancelled a bill introducing amendments to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine concerning the tightening of responsibility for infringements of honor, dignity and business reputation.

On September 18, 2012 the parliament passed at first reading the bill that proposed adding Article 145-1 on libel to the Criminal Code.

A national protest against the adoption of the bill started in Ukraine on September 25, 2012. A number of well-known media joined the protest.

On the same day, the author of the libel bill registered at the parliament a draft instruction on the cancellation of a decision by the Verkhovna Rada to pass at first reading the bill on amendments to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine on toughening punishments for the infringement of the honor, dignity and business reputation of a person.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych criticized the bill on the criminalization of libel.