The Law of Ukraine

On Printed Mass Media (Press) in Ukraine

Date of Entry into Force:

December 8, 1992

The Law of Ukraine “On Printed Mass Media (Press) in Ukraine” regulates the questions connected with legal activity of printed mass media (press) in Ukraine and sets state guarantees of their freedom.

Each citizen shall be guaranteed free expression of his views and persuasions in a printed form.

Printed mass media shall be free. It is prohibited to create any bodies or posts which function will consist in censorship of mass media. Founders of the printed mass media may be residents and non-residents of Ukraine.

The Law enumerates information which spreading in mass media is prohibited. To this list refer: calls to capture authority, forcible change of constitutional regime or territorial integrity of Ukraine, propaganda of war, stirring up race, national, religious hostility and other.

In the text of the Law there are provisions regulating requirements to the documents on the basis of which state bodies register printed mass media, procedure and terms of their consideration and record of mass media in the state register.

It is stated that a journalist is an employee of a printed mass media having special status, who professionally prepares information for a printed mass media. A journalist acts on the basis of labor or other contractual relations with his/her editorial staff or is authorized by editorial staff to perform such activity. Authorities of a journalist are confirmed by editorial certificate or other document given to him by the editorial staff of this printed mass media.

Editorial staff of mass media uses author's materials, works of literature, science and art exclusively adheringe to the legislation on intellectual property.

Nobody has the right to oblige editorial staff to publish the rejected information, unless otherwise is stipulated in the Ukrainian legislation or editorial staff statute. If spread by the printed mass media information about legal entity or natural person does not correspond to reality or humiliates their honor and dignity, legal entity or natural person have the right to give to the printed mass media a motivated requirement concerning refutation of such information.

The Law contains grounds for bringing of legal entities and natural persons to responsibility for violation of the legislation on printed mass media.