The Verkhovna Rada has registered a bill to increase fines for listening to Russian music in public places in Ukraine. Currently, such a violation is punishable by a fine of up to 70 hryvnias, but the initiative provides for an increase to 5,100-25,500 hryvnias. Responsibility for compliance with this rule lies with the heads of trade, catering and service establishments, who will bear the financial consequences for the violation.
The bill aims to reduce the influence of Russian culture in Ukraine and reduce the threat of hostile propaganda through musical means. The deputies justify the need for such measures by saying that current fines are not sufficient to effectively combat this problem.
The explanatory note to the bill cites an example of a conflict in the Kyiv region in the summer of 2023, when a visitor to a place complained about the use of Russian music in karaoke. This led to an administrative report with a fine of 17 to 170 hryvnias under Article 155 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, which, according to the deputies, is an insufficient measure of punishment.
“The adoption of this bill will contribute to a more conscientious implementation of legislation in the field of supporting the national musical product, and will also contribute to the consolidation of Ukrainian society,” the deputies noted.
