The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland today issued the following statement: " The Ukrainian Rada voted in first reading in favour of a law re-criminalising defamation. Ukraine has a vibrant media sector, but the mere threat of prosecution may create a chilling effect, increase self-censorship and curtail media freedom.

Civil remedies and public dialogue would provide a far more appropriate defence against slander. I urge the Ukrainian parliament to reject this attempt to stifle media freedom, which is an essential precondition for a functioning democracy. Without free media, there is no remedy against incompetence and misuse of power ", Mr Jagland said.