The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic has welcomed the decision by the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, to reject the bill on the criminalization of libel.

"I welcome the fact that Ukrainian legislators took note of the concerns of civil society and the media community and decided not to adopt the amendment to re-establish criminal liability for defamation," Mijatovic said in a statement on October 2.

Earlier, Mijatovic expressed concern over the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada at first reading of the draft law reintroducing criminal liability for libel. She said this draft legislation, if adopted, "would be a serious setback for media freedom."

"I have always urged OSCE participating states to decriminalize defamation and protect journalists from criminal prosecution. It is inspiring that journalists and bloggers in Ukraine will not face the threat of criminal prosecution for voicing their thoughts," reads the statement.