The Verkhovna Rada has decided to replace criminal liability for discrimination with administrative responsibility and will accordingly amend the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Bill No. 3501 on amending some legislative acts of Ukraine concerning the harmonization of anti-discrimination legislation in line with European Union law was supported by 231 MPs in a first reading on Tuesday.

The bill proposes amendments to Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine under which criminal liability for discrimination will be replaced with administrative responsibility by supplementing the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences. These changes are expected to ensure professionalism and adequacy of responsibility for violation of anti-discrimination legislation and significantly simplify the procedures for the consideration of cases on discrimination in court.

The bill also proposes amending the Law of Ukraine on the basics of preventing and combating discrimination in Ukraine, in particular, it adds such definitions as "discrimination for associations," "multiple discrimination," and others, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent said.

The bill also suggests that a Verkhovna Rada commissioner for human rights be authorized to issue mandatory orders for the elimination of violations of anti-discrimination legislation if an individual or a group of individuals appeals against discrimination.