Document signed

Viktor Yanukovych signed Law № 409-VII «On Amendments to Some Laws of Ukraine on ensuring transparency of ownership towards media» (draft № 2731). Law provides for providing information on the founder and co-founders of the print media, as well as related persons upon the state registration. In addition, as per the Law information agencies are required to give the information on the founder and co-founders of the IA in their releases.

When applying for issue or renewal of a broadcasting license it is necessary to indicate the legal and actual address, EDRPOU code, registration number of taxpayer registration card, if n/a, passport number and series of the founder or co-founders, owner or co-owners of the broadcasting organization. It is also necessary to give such information about shareholders that at the time of application owned more than 5% shares.

Under the Law, related persons are entities or individuals exercising control over the founder and co-founder of the media, as well as a legal entity over which the founder has the appropriate control. If one of the media's co-founders is an individual, its associated persons are considered his family members (spouses, children and parents, stepparents), with whom they exercise control over the media.

The law mandates the designation in each issue of the printed media of names and initials of the person responsible for the release of the corresponding edition number, along with the following original data: the name of the media, information about the founder (co-founders), name of the editor, serial number and date of issue publication, index of the edition distributed by subscription, its circulation, price or «free» tag, address of Editor office, publisher, printer, series, number and date of issuance of the certificate of registration, the publisher.

The Law also prohibits establishing and functioning of broadcasters (co-)founded, (co-)owned by non-resident(s) registered in an offshore included in the list by the Cabinet of Ministers.