Andriy Klymosyuk, Project Manager at ILI, explained in a live broadcast on "Espresso TV" why Draft Law No. 12406 is crucial for strengthening Ukraine’s sanctions policy and aligning it with EU standards
In a live broadcast on "Espresso TV," Andriy Klymosyuk, Project Manager at the Institute of Legislative Ideas, explained why Ukraine needs to adopt Draft Law No. 12406 on criminalizing sanctions violations. He pointed out that passing this bill would be an important step in strengthening Ukraine's sanctions policy, as it would harmonize national legislation with the requirements of the European Union. The draft law introduces criminal liability for sanctions violations, which would significantly enhance the effectiveness of the sanctions system. However, according to Andriy Klymosyuk, there are dangerous parliamentary amendments that could be added to the draft law, creating new risks.
He gave specific examples of potential threats, such as the possibility of transferring millions of hryvnias under the guise of legal fees, with no consequences for the violators. Andriy Klymosyuk also noted that the lack of responsibility for negligent violations would allow blocked assets to be re-registered by claiming ignorance or negligence.
Equally dangerous, he argued, is the idea of limiting the application of sanctions to Ukrainian citizens. Klymosyuk explained that this would deprive the state of the tools to influence collaborators and traitors who cannot be reached through criminal prosecution mechanisms. He emphasized that the EU and the UK have shown that sanctions can be imposed on their own citizens if there is a threat to national security.
If the draft law is passed in its current form, Ukraine risks not only weakening its sanctions system but also departing from EU standards, which would negatively affect membership negotiations. Klymosyuk called on Members of Parliament to improve the draft law so that it aligns with European standards and preserves the effectiveness of sanctions. ILI, together with other civil society organizations, has already appealed to Parliament to address these shortcomings.
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