Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law on July 29 amending the legislation in Ukraine that addresses domestic and gender-based violence, the president’s website announced.
According to the law, passed by Ukraine’s parliament on July 1, all servicepersons, police officers and reservists, as well as officers of the State Penitentiary Service, the Civil Protection Service, the State Bureau of Investigation and top officers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau will stand trial for domestic violence just like any other Ukrainian.
Before, it was difficult to bring officials who were accused of domestic violence to justice, as they could only be punished for domestic violence according to a special disciplinary charter for employees of the state, instead of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses—the set of laws for “lesser” criminal acts, or misdemeanors, that are generally punished with monetary fines or community service.
“If domestic violence is not recorded according to the Code of Administrative Offenses, it is impossible to prove the offender’s crimes are systematic in nature – and that there are grounds for criminal prosecution for domestic violence,” a report by Amnesty International, an organization protecting human rights, reads.
According to the Ukrainian legislation, domestic violence is intentional, physical, psychological or economic acts. It includes threats, insults or harassment, deprivation of housing, food, clothing, other property or funds, resulting in the potential or actual physical or mental health traumas.
For a first time offense, the offender will be fined Hr 170-340 ($6-$12), will have to do 30-40 hours of community service, or spend 10 days in jail, depending on the case. Before, first time offenders were only sentenced to up to seven days in jail.
For a second time offense within the same year, punishment will be more severe – a person will be fined Hr 340-680 ($12-$25), will have to do 40-60 hours of community service, or spend up to 15 days in jail, as it was even before the changes to the law.
The new law also increases the statute of limitations related to domestic violence from three to six months. Lawmakers believe that it will allow judges to investigate offenses more thoroughly and not close them because of short deadline.
The law also allows judges to consider cases without the presence of the offender, if the person is informed about the case.
