Registered in the Verkhovna Rada draft law No. 9547, which proposes to significantly increase fines for the public use of Russian-language music in trade, catering and service establishments. Instead of the current 70 hryvnias, fines may increase to 5100-25500 hryvnias.
Responsibility of heads of institutions
According to the new draft law, the responsibility for compliance with the ban on Russian music rests with the heads of institutions. Fines will be imposed on them, not on individual visitors. The initiative was supported by some deputies and the language ombudsman, arguing that it is necessary to strengthen national security and reduce the influence of the aggressor state.
Amount of fines
The draft law provides for fines in the amount of 300 to 500 of the tax-free minimum income of citizens (5,100-8,500 hryvnias) for the first violation. For a repeated violation within a year, the fine can reach from 1,700 to 25,500 hryvnias.
The explanatory note to the draft law mentions the conflict that occurred in July 2023 in the village of Pogreby in the Kyiv region, when a visitor was kicked out of the institution for commenting on Russian music. Parliamentarians consider the current punishment for such violations to be inadequate.
