A/HRC/43/CRP.5 VI. Civic space and fundamental freedoms 67. While tensions between supporters of different political parties gradually decreased following Parliamentary elections in July 2019, OHCHR documented 16 new attacks in the civic space during the reporting period, against 18 individuals, namely journalists, 60 human rights defenders, activists and members of the LGBTI community. A. Right to vote 68. On 13 September, the President of Ukraine vetoed the Electoral Code61 and returned it for Parliament’s revision with his comments,62 which included the need to enfranchise IDPs in the upcoming 2020 elections and to strengthen the guarantees on accessible voting procedures, facilities and materials for persons with disabilities. These comments reflect recommendations made by OHCHR.63 B. Freedom of opinion and expression and freedom of the media 69. OHCHR documented five physical attacks against media professionals (all men). On 31 August 2019, a journalist was physically attacked in Vinnytsia in retaliation for his critical publications towards the leader of a political party who participated in elections. The perpetrators asked the victim before the attack whether he was the author of these critical articles. 70. During the reporting period, OHCHR continued to monitor the situation with TV channels “112”, “NewsOne” and “ZiK”, following the resolution adopted by the Parliament on 17 October 2019 establishing a temporary investigative commission aiming to, inter alia, counter the influence of the Russian Federation in the media.64 OHCHR encourages the Government to support an environment where different and opposing views can be shared and debated freely, and cautions the Government from placing disproportionate restrictions on freedom of expression, including restrictions that may trigger selfcensorship.65 60 61 62 63 64 65 22 former officials. See HRMMU Briefing note on Accountability for Killings and Violent Deaths on 2 May 2014 in Odesa for more information. The “[n]umber of verified cases of killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention and torture of journalists, associated media personnel, trade unionists and human rights advocates in the previous 12 months” serves as an indicator for implementation of global SDG target 16.10 to “Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements”. For more information, see https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/indicators/database. Draft Electoral Code of Ukraine no. 3112-1 (now No. 0978) was adopted by Parliament on 11 July 2019 and signed by the Speaker of the Parliament on 27 August 2019. See OHCHR Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine, 16 May – 15 August 2019, para. 80. See Comments of the President of Ukraine to the Electoral Code of 17 September 2019, available at http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=66849. See OHCHR, Reports on the human rights situation in Ukraine, 15 February – 15 May 2019, para 73; 16 May – 15 August 2019, para. 80. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, “Establishment of the Interim Commission of Inquiry of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to investigate information on compliance with the requirements of the legislation during the change of owners of news channels and ensure counteraction to information influence of the Russian Federation”, no.212-IX, (17 October 2019), available at https://.zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/212-20. Forty-eight per cent of journalists identified self-censorship as a challenge affecting their work, according to the survey “Freedom of expression and challenges for journalists’ work in an armed conflict in Ukraine”. See the June 2019 report by the “Democratic Initiatives” Fund, available at https://dif.org.ua/article/svoboda-slova-ta-vikliki-dlya-roboti-zhurnalistiv-v-umovakh-zbroynogokonfliktu-v-ukraini.