This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The Communist party of Ukraine has been banned after a Kiev court upheld a government lawsuit accusing the party of promoting separatism and inter-ethnic conflict.

The decision, announced by Kiev’s district administration court on Wednesday, has been criticised by human rights campaigners who describe it as “a flagrant violation of freedom of expression and association”.

The move prevents the party from operating and participating in elections.

Ukraine to rewrite Soviet history with controversial 'decommunisation' laws Read more

In May Ukraine adopted controversial “decommunisation” laws which outlawed the display of Soviet symbols and prohibited the use of the term “communist”.

The Communist Party of Ukraine refused to change its name, logo or its charter to comply with the legislation.

John Dalhuisen of Amnesty International said the court ban set a dangerous precedent. “The decision may be seen as dealing with the damaging vestiges of the Soviet past. In fact, it does exactly the opposite by following the same style of draconian measures used to stifle dissent,” he said.

“Expressing your opinion without fear of prosecution, particularly if that opinion is contrary to the views held by those in position of power, was one of the principles behind the EuroMaidan protests. Snuffing out the Communist party flies in the face of these ideals.”

On 16 September the Ukrainian authorities published a list of people banned from entering the country, including dozens of journalists, mostly from Russia.



The government in Kiev is fighting separatist insurgents, supported by Russia, in eastern Ukraine.