Criminal liability for Ukrainophobia: Mykola Kniazhytskyi explained the essence of his bill
Ukrainophobia in the public sphere manifests itself through the humiliation of the Ukrainian language, culture, history, statehood and the right of Ukrainians to their own national identity. In times of war, such actions take on special importance, as they can be used as part of information pressure aimed at weakening social unity and denying Ukrainian subjectivity.
Ukrainian legislation may be supplemented with norms that will provide for criminal liability for Ukrainophobia. MP Mykola Knyazhytskiy reported that he had submitted a relevant bill to the Verkhovna Rada, since, in his opinion, Ukrainians in Ukraine should receive clearer legal protection from humiliation, information attacks and actions directed against Ukrainian identity.
Knyazhytskyi stated that the proposed changes should specify responsibility for manifestations of Ukrainophobia. In his opinion, society expects a fair response to public actions that humiliate Ukrainians, question Ukraine’s right to statehood, or undermine respect for the Ukrainian language, culture, and national characteristics.
The deputy links the need for such a law to the conditions of a hybrid war, during which Ukrainophobia, according to him, is used as a tool of pressure and division within the country. He believes that the current norms of the Criminal Code are insufficient to fully cover this phenomenon, in particular, in terms of actions directed against Ukrainian subjectivity and the people’s right to self-determination.
According to Knyazhytskyi, the draft law proposes to recognize intentional actions that harm the state and Ukrainian society as Ukrainophobia. He includes such manifestations as public calls to deny the subjectivity of Ukraine, justification of assimilation or subjugation of the Ukrainian people, as well as derogatory statements about the Ukrainian language, culture and national characteristics, if they are aimed at undermining identity.
The MP places special emphasis on the fact that the concept of Ukrainophobia is broader than the current provisions of Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. According to him, due to the lack of a separate definition and clearly prescribed punishment, the law enforcement system has limited opportunities to respond to such cases.
Knyazhytsky explains his initiative as a public demand to protect Ukrainians from humiliation and hostile informational influences. He notes that the public has already raised the issue of the need for a separate law that would give a legal assessment to actions directed against Ukrainian statehood, language, culture and national dignity.
According to the deputy, Ukrainophobia should be given a specific place in the legislation so that offenders do not evade responsibility due to gaps in the current norms. The proposed bill, as follows from his explanation, should provide the state with a tool to respond to public manifestations that humiliate Ukrainians or deny their right to their own state and identity.
