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Zelensky proposes stripping individuals supporting Russia of state titles

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Zelensky proposes stripping individuals supporting Russia of state titles
Zelensky holds a phone call with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Jan. 29, 2024. (Volodymyr Zelenskyy / X)

President Volodymyr Zelensky initiated on July 16 a draft law that would allow the stripping of state awards from those who promoted Russia or committed other illegal acts against Ukraine.

The document will amend a number of relevant Ukraine's legislative acts, Zelensky said in his evening address.

"We need a legal mechanism to actually deprive such persons of all state awards of Ukraine and honorary titles. They deserve only one 'title' — traitors," Zelensky said.

In 2022, a petition demanding that notorious pro-Russian Ukrainian lawmaker Yurii Boyko be stripped of the Hero of Ukraine title passed the threshold for presidential consideration. However, the proceedings stalled.

“Due to a conflict in the current legislation, it is impossible to deprive some figures of the highest state awards,” Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

If the draft law backed by Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, and signed by the president, those who support Russia or live there will be deprived of state awards, according to Zelensky.

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Kateryna Denisova

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Kateryna Denisova works as a News Editor at the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked as a news editor at the NV media outlet for four years, covering mainly Ukrainian and international politics. Kateryna holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv. She also was a fellow at journalism schools in the Czech Republic and Germany.

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