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Ukrainians who knowingly use or fabricate fake COVID vaccine certificates face fines or imprisonment under a new law passed by parliament today at first reading to tackle record levels of COVID-19 infection and deaths, Reuters reported. quoted by BTA.
Ukraine has lagged behind other European countries in the rate of vaccination this year and is currently trying to persuade skeptical citizens to get immunized.
Vaccines have become mandatory for some government officials, as well as in the “red” areas, including the capital Kiev. Only vaccinated or holders of a negative PSA test document are allowed in restaurants, gyms and public transport.
This has led to a booming black market for counterfeit certificates, and police have launched hundreds of investigations into the country.
The lack of criminal liability for such crimes creates preconditions for further falsification of documents, wrote Health Minister Viktor Lyashko on the legislature’s website, adding that this is a direct threat to the lives and health of Ukrainian citizens.
The bill introduces a fine of up to $ 2,600 or two to three years in prison for knowingly using fake vaccination documents and entering fake vaccination data in medical records.
The fabrication of false documents for sale will be a criminal offense. He faces between 2 and 3 years in prison or a fine of about $ 6,400, the bill said.
To date, Ukraine has registered 2.96 million cases of infection and 68,727 deaths from covid. Only 7.5 million people, or less than a fifth of the population of nearly 41 million, are fully vaccinated.
A poll conducted in October by the sociological agency Rating Research showed that 43 percent of Ukrainians are not ready to be vaccinated.
Today, the Ukrainian parliament decided to allow only vaccinated persons or holders of a negative test document in its building, TASS reports.
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