Poroshenko signs laws on denouncing Communist, Nazi regimes
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed into law bills on the de-Communization, the presidential press service reported.
"Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed four laws, i.e. 'On denouncing the Communist and the National-Socialist (Nazi) totalitarian regimes in Ukraine and banning the propaganda of their symbols', 'On access to archives of repressive bodies of the Communist totalitarian regime of 1917-1991,' 'On commemorating the victory over Nazism in the 2nd World War of 1939-1945', and 'On legal status and commemoration of fighters of Ukraine's independence in the 20th century," it said.
The documents ban Soviet symbols, denounce the Communist regime, open archives of Soviet special services, and recognize the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and some other organizations as fighters for Ukraine's independence. The bills had been passed by the Verkhovna Rada at the morning session on April 9, 2015.
By signing these laws, the president said a bill aimed at improving the norm on liability for the violation of the law on status of fighters for Ukraine's independence in the 20th century would be submitted to the Verkhovna Rada in the near future. The bill initiated by the president is aimed at eliminating legal conflicts that could be taken advantage of to abuse the law and violate human rights and freedoms, particularly as regards the freedom of research and international cooperation and dialogue, the presidential press service said.