The Ukrainian Parliament, Verkhovna Rada, has introduced a bill to decriminalize the creation and distribution of pornography, marking a significant step in aligning the country’s laws with international norms. Yaroslav Zhelezniak, a member of the center-right Holos Party, submitted the proposed legislation, which seeks to amend Article 301 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code.

The bill, registered today, comes after more than a year of deliberation within parliamentary committees and working groups. If passed, the legislation would replace current penalties, which include prison sentences of 3-5 years for producing or distributing intimate content, with a more lenient legal framework. Zhelezniak made the announcement via his Telegram channel, where he expressed satisfaction at reaching a compromise.

“This is the decriminalization of porn,” Zhelezniak stated. “So that people are not thrown in prison for storing content or subjected to mass ‘secret purchases’ in webcam operations. Under the current Article 301, you can even be punished for storing nude photos on your personal phone.”

The bill proposes to maintain criminal liability for specific categories of harmful content, including:

• Pornography involving minors (CSAM).
• Non-consensual porn, such as revenge porn or deepfakes.
• Extreme pornography depicting violence, zoophilia, or necrophilia.
• Distribution of pornographic material to minors.

Despite these proposed changes, the bill ensures that related offenses such as pimping, human trafficking, and coercion into prostitution remain criminal acts. “This balanced approach preserves societal protections while removing excessive punishments for consensual adult activities,” Zhelezniak noted.

The bill has gained support from 27 Members of Parliament, including Vladlen Nekliudov, head of the working group, and other members of the Committee on Law Enforcement.

The movement to amend Article 301 began in August 2023, when lawmakers first proposed decriminalizing pornography. The current law, enacted in 2009, has drawn criticism for its broad scope and severe penalties. Critics argue that it punishes consensual adult behavior and criminalizes individuals for private content stored on personal devices.

The new proposal aims to strike a balance by focusing enforcement on genuinely harmful and non-consensual acts, which is in line with broader European standards.

If enacted, the bill would significantly liberalize Ukraine’s stance on pornography, aligning it with trends in other democratic nations. Advocates argue that the reform will reduce unnecessary criminal cases while protecting individual freedoms and privacy.

However, the proposal is likely to face scrutiny from conservative factions and certain segments of the public. Proponents emphasize that decriminalization does not equate to deregulation, as strong safeguards against exploitation and harm remain in place.

Alison Boden, executive director of the Free Speech Coalition, commented on the broader significance of such legal changes: “Laws like these not only protect freedoms but also create a safer and more transparent environment for content creators and consumers alike.”

The bill will now proceed to parliamentary debate, with its initial reading expected in the coming weeks. Should it pass, Ukraine will join a growing number of countries that have modernized their laws concerning adult content.

Ukraine’s move to reconsider its pornography laws is emblematic of the country’s broader efforts to reform and modernize its legal system in a rapidly changing digital world. As the bill moves through the legislative process, it will serve as a litmus test for the country’s evolving stance on personal freedoms and societal norms.