Punishment for Stirring-Up National Hatred!

04 July 2012

On July 4, 2012 the press conference, titled “The lawyers demand drawing the leader of the Coordinating council of the Russian organizations of Sevastopol and Taurida V.L.Tyunin to the criminal responsibility for stirring-up the national hatred on one of the Crimean TV channels”.

The initiators of the press conference were the lawyers Teyfuk Gafarov and Rustem Osmanov. They told the journalists about the situation that took place in the talk-show, titled “Gravitation” on ATR TV channel on June 29, 2012.

“On June 29, during the talk-show “Gravitation”,- Teyfuk Gafarov said, one of the leaders of the public organization of Sevastopol and Taurida Vladimir Tyunin, being well aware that the audience of this TV channel are Crimean Tatars, made some statements that to our opinion could stir up the national hatred”.

Teyfuk Gafarov also said at the press conference that he filed a complaint to the Public Prosecutor’s Office concerning Vladimir Tyunin’s statements.

On July 3, 2012 the lawyers filed to the Public Prosecutor’s Office of ARC a complaint, saying about the commitment of a crime, provided by the Part 1, Art. 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – “Violation of the equal rights of the citizens on the ground of their race, nation or religion”.

T. Gafarov underscored that the Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine provides a punishment for the stirring-up the national hatred.

According to Teyfuk Gafarov, about 30 cases were opened under this article in Ukraine. He also said that in case Vladimir Tyunin will be found guilty of violation of the law, the article provides punishment, depending to the gravity of his guilt. The punishment could be limited to just a fine or he could be even sentenced to prison.

In conclusion of the press conference Rusten Osmanov noted that they will do their best to make the law enforcement bodies and the Public Prosecutor’s Office taking measures to prevent the statements and actions that stir up the national hatred. They also said that any person could apply to them for help to file a complaint to the Public Prosecutor’s Office under the Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and will receive the competent legal assistance.

We would remind you that on July 3, 2012 during the meeting of the Public Humanitarian Council the President of Ukraine V.Yanukovych stated that the law enforcement agencies must react hard to any attempts to stir up the conflicts on the ethnic ground.

“Any attempts to stir up the conflict on the ethnic ground must be given the urgent and hard response,” – he underscored.

“As the President of Ukraine I would like to ensure you all that the implementation of the rights of persons, belonging to the national minorities will be under the constant control in the future,”- the President underscored, President’s Press Service reports.