Will Zelensky sign the controversial "firewood law"?

Will Zelensky sign the controversial "firewood law"?

President Volodymyr Zelensky will not sign the law aimed at increasing penalties for illegal timber trade, which has been dubbed the "firewood law."

This was stated by presidential advisor Dmytro Litvyn, as reported by BBC on Tuesday, November 5.

According to Litvyn, due to technical reasons, the time to impose a veto has passed.

On October 10, the Verkhovna Rada supported the draft law on increasing responsibility for offenses in the field of forestry and combating illegal timber trade.

The current legislation imposes fines for this offense ranging from 17,000 to 25,500 hryvnias, while the new law raises these penalties to between 34,000 and 85,000 hryvnias or up to three years of imprisonment.

If damage is caused to trees or shrubs located in parks, squares, or historical and cultural reserves, the fine will range from 85,000 to 170,000 hryvnias. There is also the possibility of imprisonment for a term of three to five years.

The co-author of the document, MP from the Servant of the People party Maksym Pavliuk, stated that reports in the media claiming that the draft law supposedly prohibits citizens from storing firewood for personal use without confirming documents are false.

“In other words, a person bears no responsibility for storing 30 cubic meters of pine firewood or 15 cubic meters of oak firewood. This is the amount needed for a household during the heating season, and even with a surplus,” said the MP.

Pavliuk clarified that criminal liability arises for storing firewood worth more than 30,000 hryvnias.