A coalition of Ukrainian media and human rights organizations has warned that a proposed new Civil Code could pose serious risks to freedom of speech, investigative journalism, and public access to information.

In a joint statement issued on Journalist’s Day, the Media Movement, the Institute of Mass Information (IMI), Detector Media, CEDEM, ZMINA Human Rights Center, Lviv Media Forum, Texty.org.ua and several other organizations called on the Verkhovna Rada and its chairman, Ruslan Stefanchuk, to revise controversial provisions contained in draft law No. 15150, which was approved in its first reading on April 28.

While acknowledging the need to modernize Ukraine’s civil legislation, the organizations argued that legal reform should not come at the expense of fundamental democratic freedoms, particularly during the ongoing war with Russia.

The groups warned that several provisions in the draft code could create a “chilling effect” on journalism and public-interest investigations. According to the statement, the proposed legislation could restrict investigative reporting through an overly broad right of reply, expose journalists to lawsuits related to reporting on corruption suspects, weaken protections for whistleblowers, and allow public figures to seek the removal of archival information through a vaguely defined “right to be forgotten.”

The signatories also expressed concern that the draft could grant companies excessive digital privacy rights, potentially limiting the use of open data and OSINT tools, while also restricting the publication of corporate correspondence that may reveal wrongdoing. Other provisions could undermine the use of covert recordings in journalistic investigations and create mechanisms for courts to block content before publication.

The organizations stressed that these measures could hinder reporting on corruption, misuse of public funds, conflicts of interest, wartime profiteering, and links to Russia.

“Journalism does not exist to serve the reputational needs of officials, politicians, businesses, or subjects of investigations,” the statement said. “Its mission is to provide society with verified, important, and often uncomfortable information.”

The coalition called for a comprehensive review of the draft code involving media organizations, investigative journalists, human rights advocates, digital rights experts, and anti-corruption specialists before any final adoption.

The statement concluded that freedom of speech remains one of the key distinctions between Ukraine and Russia and warned that Ukraine “cannot fight for democracy on the battlefield while simultaneously weakening it through legislation.”