TEMPO.CO, Kiev - The controversial legislation governing protest acts in Ukraine has been put into effect since yesterday. Although unflavored by thousands of protesters, the regulation was forced to be implemented as the legislation draft was published on Ukraine’s parliament daily Golos Ukrainy on the same day.
The legislation, banning any form of protest, was approved by parliamentary members of the incumbent party on January 16 without being approved by the opposition parliamentary members, who are demanding President Viktor Yanukobych to step down. Yanukovych signed and stipulated the draft to become legislation.
By the regulation, the police have detained protesters who use helmets or masks covering their head and face for 15 days. Those who blockaded the government building will be subjected to 5 years of imprisonment.
The enactment of the law coincided with the third day of the protest against the law by thousands of protesters in Kiev. The two-day rally has caused 100 protesters and 100 police officers injured. Home Affairs Ministry stated that the authorities have captured at least 32 protesters, which 13 of them are facing a 15-year sentence for inflicting riots. However, the sentence threat would not stop the protest. Although the temperature has dropped to minus 10 degrees C, thousands of people are staying at Kiev’s Independence Square.
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