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WORLD NEWS Friday 8 March 2019

Ukraine candidate vows ‘prison for life’ for military graft

Associated Press she said. Tymoshenko also Zelenskiy claimed that
MINSK, Belarus (AP) — signed what she said was criminal cases have been
Ukrainian presidential can- a commitment to end the opened against him and
didate Yulia Tymoshenko fighting against Russia- his video and film produc-
on Thursday promised life backed separatists in east- tion company, although
imprisonment for anyone ern Ukraine and to restore there is no official confirma-
convicted of military cor- Russia-annexed Crimea to tion of such cases.
ruption allegations, includ- Ukraine. He also complained about
ing the incumbent presi- “We don’t take on the ob- listening devices that were
dent. ligation to end the war in found this week in the build-
A media investigation last two weeks because we are ing where he has offices.
week detailed alleged responsible politicians, but The Interior Ministry pub-
embezzlement schemes in there is no doubt we will lished photos of some of
Ukraine’s military industry, absolutely establish peace the devices and a mem-
including at a factory con- Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko speaks during on all of Ukraine’s territory, ber of the ministry’s admin-
trolled by President Petro her press conference in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, March. 7, 2019. and Donbass and Crimea istrative council said such
Poroshenko. Associated Press will be returned,” she said. devices are available only
“Those who earned even ko’s ahead of the March party was behind an at- She also said she was pre- under license from the na-
one black kopeck by ex- 31 election, according to tempt to bribe the similarly pared to commit to actions tional security service, the
ploiting the army and the polls. But both are behind named candidate to drop such as lowering household SBU.
war will sit in prison for life,” another challenger, come- out of the race. Two peo- costs for gas and water, The SBU on Thursday denied
Tymoshenko said at a news dian Volodymyr Zelenskiy. ple were arrested in the raising pensions and sup- it was listening in on Zelen-
conference where she al- Tymoshenko also alleged case Wednesday. porting families with mul- skiy and said the devices
leged Poroshenko “simply that the presidential ad- At the news conference, tiple children. were placed there as part
laundered defense mon- ministration was behind the the former prime minister Zelenskiy on Thursday met of a counterintelligence in-
ey.” candidacy of a rival with a distanced herself from the with U.S. Undersecretary of vestigation. It said the ser-
The candidate, a former similar name, Yuri Tymosh- mater. State for Political Affairs Da- vice had begun criminal
prime minister and a main enko, to confuse voters. “It all is like the American vid Hale and complained proceedings against the
figure of the 2004 Orange Prosecutor-general Yuri Lut- movie comedy ‘Dumb and that his campaign was un- ministry for harming nation-
Revolution, has support senko has alleged that a Dumber,’ with Poroshenko der pressure from Ukrainian al interests by revealing SBU
nearly equal to Poroshen- member of Tymoshenko’s and Lutsenko taking part,” authorities. workings.q

New Russian bill introduces punishment for insulting state

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV nal, third reading. It also authorities could use the
Associated Press endorsed a separate bill “fake news” bill to punish
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian that will block anyone pub- critics.
lawmakers passed legisla- lishing “fake news” online, Valery Gartung of the Just
tion Thursday that imposes that is perceived to threat- Russia faction also criti-
restrictions on online media en public health and secu- cized the legislation, saying
and criminalizes anyone rity. The bills are expected its vagueness will open the
who insults the state. to quickly pass in the up- way for selective interpre-
The bill introduces fines for per house before President tation.
publishing materials show- Vladimir Putin signs them The ultranationalist leader
ing disrespect to the state, into laws. Vladimir Zhirinovsky spoke
its symbols and govern- Critics see the legislation about the need to “fight
ment organs. Repeat of- as part of Kremlin efforts to lies that lead to revolutions
fenders could face a 15- stifle criticism and tighten and wars,” but added that
Russian President Vladimir Putin during meeting with Anatoly day jail sentence. control. his faction wouldn’t sup-
Bibilov, the leader of Georgia’s breakaway region of South The Kremlin-controlled low- During Thursday’s debates, port what he described as
Ossetia, in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, March
6, 2019. er house, the State Duma, Communist lawmaker Alex- insufficiently prepared leg-
Associated Press approved the bill in the fi- ei Kurinnyi warned that the islation. q