The Parliament blocked the draft law that allows punishing journalists.

On July 16, the Verkhovna Rada adopted draft law No. 12320 in the second reading, which prohibits journalists from publicly discussing the lawyer-client relationship. However, the anti-corruption policy committee is preparing a resolution to block this law. National deputy from the Servant of the People faction and head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy Anastasia Radina published her position on Facebook regarding the blocking of the law. According to Radina, the well-known draft law provides for the possibility of punishing journalists for simply mentioning their lawyers in connection with specific individuals. The deputy believes that this is a violation of freedom of speech and a new tool for pressure on journalists who are disliked by the authorities. Although the Verkhovna Rada voted for the immediate signing of the law by Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, Radina proposes a blocking resolution supported by the head of the freedom of speech committee, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn. It is important to emphasize that this initiative may become an attack on freedom of speech in Ukraine. Journalists have the right to freely express their position and not be punished for it, so blocking the law may be an important step in protecting freedom of speech in the country.