Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada proposes banning use of names of separatist republics in media
A bill was submitted in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) calling to classify the names “DPR” (Donetsk People’s Republic) and “LPR” (Luhansk People’s Republic) as those which promote criminal organizations, which in turn would prohibit the use of the names in the media, 112.ua reported.
Instead of the abbreviations “DPR” and “LPR” the initiator of the bill proposes the terms “criminal organization, self-proclaimed in the territory of the Donetsk region” and “criminal organization, self-proclaimed in the territory of the Luhansk region.”
The draft of the law states that the public use of the names of criminal organizations self-proclaimed in the territory of certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions including in the media is prohibited.
The draft law assigns responsibility for the violation of these provisions. Media organizations violating this law may have their registration revoked. Legal persons, political parties and other associations violating the act may have their licenses suspended leading to the termination of their activities.
The initiator of the bill, Ihor Lapin, is an MP from the People’s Front political party.