The parliament's legal affairs committee has approved, at second reading, a new chapter in the Criminal Code that makes it a crime to break EU sanctions or get around them.

The Council of Ministers sent the bill to parliament on 11 September. At first reading in the plenary hall, 183 MPs voted for it and 10 voted against.

The new chapter is titled "Crimes against the restrictive measures of the European Union". The bill sets penalties of prison terms, fines and loss of certain rights.

Breaches become crimes in three cases: freezing of funds or economic resources. Restrictions on letting certain people enter an EU member state, including travel bans. And bans or limits on making or continuing deals. These include public procurement contracts and concessions.

Bans on financial services and activities are added to these, among them financing, financial aid, investment, investment services and taking deposits. The bill also covers breaches involving services other than financial ones, such as legal advice, trust management, accounting and audit services, and others.

It also sets criminal liability for getting around the measures.

One example is moving funds or economic resources from sanctioned individuals or companies to other people to avoid the restrictions.