The first restrictions due to coronavirus outbreak were introduced by Decree of Cabinet of Ministers on March 11, 2020 on Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus in Ukraine which was followed by additional subordinate legislation.
On March 25, 2020, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted the Resolution of No. 338-r1 to establish the emergency situation in all Ukrainian territory by April 24, 2020.
The regulations that were adopted have established various restrictions, including closing down the borders for international travel, closing down catering and entertainment establishments, the subway, and prohibiting interregional, long distance passenger buses. In addition, it is forbidden to hold all mass events (cultural, entertaining, sports, social, religious, advertising and other). Given the absence of difference between assembly and mass events in the legislation, there is no clear understanding of whether assembly is allowed.
So far, there are no extreme restrictions imposed during the emergency situation. Neither freedom of speech or media, nor political rights are restricted in the country and people use the internet freely.
On March 17, the Verkhovna Rada voted a law which increased administrative and criminal liability for quarantine violations:
- imposes a fine of ranging from one to two thousand non-taxable minimum incomes2 of citizens and on officials – from two to ten thousand3 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens;
- shall be punishable by a fine of from one thousand to three thousand non-taxable minimum incomes4 , or arrest for a term up to six months, or restraint of liberty for a term up to three years, or imprisonment for the same term. The same acts, if they caused death or other grave consequences, shall be punishable by imprisonment for a term of five to eight years.
Also, to overcome the crisis the parliament is planning to vote for the decrease in the budget expenditures.