Ukraine passes controversial anti-protest legislation

Ukraine has approved controversial anti-protest legislation, which has sparked unprecedented protests in the country since late November.

The new legislation was published in the official newspaper Golos Ukrainy (Voice of Ukraine).

The law bans any unauthorized installation of tents, stages or amplifiers in public places.

Under the new legislation, there is up to a five-year jail term for blockading government buildings, hefty fines and prison terms for protesters who wear face masks and helmets. People who form convoys of more than five cars also face driving bans.

According to the anti-protest legislation, people and organizations that provide facilities or equipment for unauthorized meetings will be liable to a fine of up to $1,275, or detention of up to 10 days.

The two-month protests in the east European country turned violent after 235 out of 450 lawmakers in the country’s parliament backed the new legislation on January 17.

The move to bring the legislation into force comes despite calls from the opposition to reverse the law, which aims at curbing anti-government demonstrations not only in the capital city of Kiev but also in other parts of the country.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich has called for compromise between anti-government protesters and police, asking people not to join those who “want to hurl the Ukrainian people into a pit of mass disorder.”

Ukraine has been rocked by anti-government protests after Yanukovich refrained from signing a trade agreement with the European Union at the third Eastern Partnership Summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on November 29, 2013.

Kiev refused to sign the agreement after EU leaders called on Ukraine to allow jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko to travel overseas for medical treatment.