Ukraine toughens punishment for antisemitism

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a law introducing criminal liability for antisemitism, which had been awaiting his signature for several years.

This is evidenced by data on the website of the country's parliament.

In October 2021, the Ukrainian president signed the law 'On Prevention and Counteraction to Antisemitism,' but only now are specific criminal sanctions for antisemitism being introduced.

Under the new rules, inciting hatred, insults, or discrimination based on national or religious grounds can result in a fine or imprisonment for up to 5 years. In cases of violence or actions by an organized group, the penalty can be imprisonment for up to 8 years.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed this law on February 15, 2022. The document had been awaiting the president's signature for over 4 years.