May 17, 2007 -- Ukraine's parliament has passed a bill banning mass hypnotism.
The legislation, which still must be signed into law by President Viktor Yushchenko, would punish attempts at mass hypnosis with a four-year prison term and a fine.
The bill, which was sponsored by the Health Ministry, allows only "qualified medical professionals" to perform hypnosis in hospitals or other legally approved facilities, one patient at a time.
(dpa, ITAR-TASS)