Cabinet proposes Rada to impose penalty of up to 3 years in prison for attempting to illegally travel abroad

The Cabinet of Ministers proposes to the Verkhovna Rada to impose a penalty of up to 3 years in prison for crossing or attempting to illegally travel abroad. The relevant bill No. 13673 was registered in the Verkhovna Rada on August 21, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

In particular, the bill provides for a fine of up to 7,000 to 10,000 non-taxable minimum incomes (UAH 119,000-170,000) or imprisonment for up to three years for crossing or attempting to cross the state border of Ukraine during a state of war or emergency in any way outside the state border checkpoints or at the state border checkpoints without appropriate documents or using a forged document or one containing inaccurate information about the person, or without permission from the relevant authorities.

It is provided that a person is exempted from criminal liability if he or she returned to the territory of Ukraine within three months from the moment of crossing the state border of Ukraine and voluntarily reported what happened to a law enforcement agency before being notified of the suspicion of committing this criminal offense.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, the Cabinet of Ministers also proposes to the Verkhovna Rada to impose imprisonment of up to 5 years for violation of the term of stay abroad by conscripts and those liable for military service.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs explains the initiative to introduce criminal liability for illegal travel abroad by the fact that administrative fines do not deter violators, the number of attempts to illegally cross the state border is increasing.

Currently, those liable for military service (conscripts, reservists) can only be held administratively liable for illegally crossing the state border of Ukraine.