12:21 02.04.2015

Poroshenko signs bill banning films glorifying aggressor state's military, law enforcement

2 min read
Poroshenko signs bill banning films glorifying aggressor state's military, law enforcement

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed amendments to the laws protecting Ukraine's information space, TV and radio broadcasts, which ban audio or video products which harm Ukraine's national security and glorifies the law enforcement agencies, armed forces and other military formations of an aggressor state.

Bill No. 1317, which was supported by the Ukrainian parliament on February 5, was "returned with a signature by president," according to an announcement on the parliament's website.

On March 18, the Verkhovna Rada rejected an Opposition Bloc initiative to scrap the amendments passed by lawmakers on February 5, which banned the screening of films made by Russian individuals and companies after January 1, 2014.

"Distribution and public screening of films made by Russian individuals and companies, as well as films containing propaganda and whose plots involve, directly or indirectly Russian law enforcement bodies (including positive portrayal), armed forces, other military or security forces and their individual representatives, authorities and forces, are hereby prohibited in Ukraine," the law reads.

The ban does not extend to films made before January 1, 2014.

Under the law, a film is "an audio and visual product, including television series and their episodes." Film distribution or screening shall entail "any public demonstration of an audio and visual product, including feature and documentary films, series, including broadcasting, re-broadcasting, public announcement and other ways of airing…theater screening and making films available on the Internet," the document reads.

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