Ukraine’s parliament moves to restrict Telegram app use for official purposes

Source: Yaroslav Yurchyshyn/Facebook

The Ukrainian Parliament is set to impose new restrictions on the use of the messaging app Telegram for official purposes. Yaroslav Yurchyshyn who chairs Freedom of Speech Committee, confirmed the new policy on social media. The lawmaker justified the move, citing recommendations from the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC).

The parliament employees now need to lock their computers and are not allowed to send official information via Telegram. This extends to both work computers and personal devices used for professional purposes.

To further tighten security, technical blocks on accessing Telegram from work devices will be implemented, along with monitoring of any unauthorized access attempts.

These precautions come after several incidents were reported where outsiders gained access to government officials’ data and even created a fake account of Parliament’s Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk.

It’s worth noting that the restrictions only apply to parliamentary staff and do not affect personal use of the messaging app.

Amendments to Ukraine’s enforcement proceedings legislation, initiated by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, have entered into force. Among other measures, the reform provides for the automated lifting of attachments on bank accounts immediately after debts in enforcement proceedings have been fully settled. The main practical benefit for citizens is the complete elimination of the need to contact an enforcement officer in person and wait for paper decisions once the debt has been paid.

The 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade has received another batch of supplies as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative. This time, the military received seven quad bikes and four mobile shower and bath units.

In my previous column, I wrote about social innovations in Ukraine. Those innovations are part of civic resilience and the democratization of security, which Europe is paying close attention to right now. The EU is trying to work out how to spread responsibility for its own security across society as a whole, rather than leaving it to institutions alone. It is looking for concrete ways to bring ordinary people into the work of defense and resistance.

Petro Poroshenko’s lawyers have appealed to the High Anti-Corruption Court demanding that NABU be obligated to register proceedings regarding the fact of exerting influence on the court and to recognize Petro Poroshenko as a victim in the case of the Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Iryna Mudra, due to her pressure on Supreme Court judges who were considering a lawsuit to overturn sanctions.

Internationally recognized brands and financial institutions should direct capital to Ukraine now, not waiting for the hostilities to end. This was emphasized by Rinat Akhmetov, president of FC Shakhtar, during a working visit to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where he met with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.