STAND-UP:
"On the central square of Ukraine students and activists formed a big word meaning “NO.” They are protesting against the adoption of bill #2450, which can limit the freedom of association. They say that if it is adopted, rallies like this one may never happen again in Kyiv."

A draft bill, which became a point issue of the event, was adopted in the first hearing in the Ukrainian Parliament in 2009. Today a coordination board has to decide whether it will be reviewed in a second hearing in Parliament this Thursday.


Activists say that the bill as it stands, cannot be adopted.

[Stepan Barna, “For Ukraine” Movement Member]:
“Bill 2450 project is a threat for rallies; it restricts the rights of people for the freedom of association and expands the authority of governing institutions."

One of the points of this document explains the rules for "spontaneous associations." Human rights activist Vladimir Chemeris says that the bill gives police the right to arrest participants of a rally if they don’t inform the government about the event four days in advance. 

[Vladimir Chemeris, Board Member of “Republic” Institute]:
“We have to take into consideration the Ukrainian specific conditions. If there is any loophole in the law, which can possibly prohibit the rally, they will use it.”

After the central square rally, activists went to the location of the coordination board, where they gathered in front of the building waiting for the decision.

Several policemen tried to push them away. But protesters reminded them that the draft bill was not yet adopted.

Parliamentarians from the ruling party think that the bill will be adopted.

[Yurii Miroshnychenko, Ukrainian Parliamentarian]:
“We don’t need the arbitrary decisions of specific officials, who would give the nonpublic orders. We need the law which would regulate how organizers of the rallies and law enforcement officials have to behave.”

The draft bill was tabled in 2009 by Yulia Tymoshenko. After the presidential elections, her party became oppositional and the attitude of the opposition leaders toward this bill has changed. Now they also think that is has to be improved. Activists agree with that.

[Vasiliy Gatsko, Head of the “Democratic Alliance”]:
"Only after public discussion, expert report and adaptation with the public can this draft bill be introduced for consideration in the second hearing of the Ukrainian Parliament."

After some time the representative of the activists, who was present during the consideration in coordination board, went downstairs and said that the introduction of the bill was postponed until the next debating week.

NTD, Kyiv, Ukraine