The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Law Enforcement is considering a bill that would criminalize “misappropriation of state functions.” The authors of the bill propose a severe punishment – imprisonment for 15 years or even life imprisonment. The initiators of the bill are MPs from the Servant of the People faction – Halyna Tretyakova and Maryana Bezugla. According to information on the Verkhovna Rada website, the document has been submitted to the relevant committee for review.
According to the text of the bill, it is proposed to supplement the Criminal Code of Ukraine with an article that provides for liability for “appropriation of state functions by citizens.” This violation will punish those who speak on behalf of Ukraine without the necessary powers and permits at international events or before representatives of foreign states and international organizations through various forms of communication, such as correspondence or telephone conversations.
The proposed sanctions include imprisonment for a term of 10 to 12 years with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for a term of 10 to 15 years, as well as confiscation of property. During martial law, quarantine may be increased to imprisonment for 15 years or life imprisonment with confiscation of property.
The authors of the bill consider it necessary to combat "disgraceful citizens" who, they say, are trying to appropriate state functions for their own benefit, although no specific examples are given.
Mariana Bezugla commented on the media and social media reaction to the bill on her Facebook page: "It's so cute how the bill joke works. Tomorrow I can register the cancellation of Russia.".
