EPTV investigates in Ukraine, where recent elections were tarnished by irregularities, civil rights are in rapid decline and EU relations are at an all-time low.

Reporter: Ukraine's downward spiral

The young democracy in Ukraine  is running out of steam.

Numerous irregularities have tarnished  the legislative elections.

and civil rights are clearly going backwards.

The latest example is a draft law  aiming to silence homosexuals.

Being gay in Ukraine means leading  a secret life, as Bogdan knows.

Those openly displaying their sexual  orientation risk facing social rejection.

you risk losing your friends  and your job.

And if you live in a small town,  it just brings your life to nothing

because you're going  to be persecuted all the time

He belongs to an association  fighting for rights

that are under threat  of deteriorating even further.

During a first reading, the Ukrainian  Parliament approved a draft law

that intends to ban all forms  of 'homosexual propaganda'.

It forbids the organisation of meetings.

It forbids any positive information  about gays and lesbians.

And so if someone wants to share  this kind of information,

talk in a positive light about gays  in a interview, for example, for our interview,

This law's future now depends on the  decisions of the recently elected parliament.

But of all the political forces represented,  only one has openly opposed the law.

before it manages to become a  constitutional state to European standards.

under close surveillance  from European observers.

that these elections have meant  a step backwards for democracy.

Citizens could vote freely but the campaign  was plagued with irregularities.

To that must be added the forced absence  of ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko

who couldn't compete  as she was in prison.

My mother is very concerned  and that is why she is sounding the alarm

that these elections can't be viewed as fair.

They are illegitimate and she's asking  the observers to keep their position

because their position is clear.  They are already very critical.

The trial of Yulia Tymoshenko  has been described

as politically motivated  by the European authorities

who cite the pressing need  to reform the Ukrainian legal system.

The lack of judicial independence  is the main problem, as is corruption.

Obviously corruption is a big problem  for Ukraine, for any system,

and we can particularly see that in the  criminal justice system it is a big problem.

The last year has been a difficult one  for EU-Ukraine relations.

The signing of the Association Agreement  remains on hold, pending concrete action.

Brussels is asking for more democracy, less  corruption and reform of the judicial system.

I think that in all the matters  relating to human rights standards,

standards of equal treatment  and freedom,

Ukraine should seek solutions  that would bring it closer to Europe.

For Bogdan, as for so many other groups,

pressure from the international community  is the last hope

of Ukraine being able  to respect citizens' rights.