MPs toughen criminal liability for mass riots and seizure of buildings

Ukrainian Parliament amended the Criminal Code, toughening responsibility for riots, blocking and seizure of state or public buildings.

The relevant law by deputies from the Party of Regions Vadym Kolesnichenko and Volodymyr Oliynyk was passed at the Parliament’s session on Thursday.

The amendments stipulate that organizing of mass disturbances, accompanied by violence, riots, destruction of property, seizure of buildings and structures, shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of 5-10 years. In the previous version of the Criminal Code the maximum penalty for such actions was 8 years.

Calls for actions that threaten public order shall be punished by restriction of freedom for up to 5 years or imprisonment for a term of 2-6 years. 

Seizure of state or public buildings and structures shall be punishable by restraint of liberty for a term of 3-5 years, or imprisonment for a term of 3-6 years. This article provides for additional penalty for blocking buildings or structures that ensure activities of state authorities, local authorities, associations of citizens. Such actions shall be punished by restriction of freedom for up to 5 years or imprisonment for the same term.