A bill that seriously restricts the work of journalists was registered in the Verkhovna Rada

A bill that could significantly restrict the work of journalists has been registered in Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada.

A group of MPs led by Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk submitted draft law No. 14057 to parliament, proposing amendments to the Civil Code.

The bill increases liability for the “dissemination of false information,” regulates procedures for refutations, and introduces a series of new restrictions on the media.

In particular, it proposes automatically classifying information as false if it is not backed by a criminal conviction.

This effectively means journalists would be unable to publish materials about corruption or criminal schemes until court proceedings are completed — a process that often takes years.

The draft law also introduces a “right to be forgotten” — allowing individuals to demand the removal of any information, even accurate reports, if it is deemed “outdated” or “no longer of public interest.” At the same time, the bill provides no clear criteria for defining these terms.

Another clause concerns compensation for moral damages: lawsuits could be filed even over value judgments or an “unpleasant tone” in publications.