Ban on Russian music in public places may be introduced in Odesa: what are the fines?
In Ukraine, a proposal is being made to prohibit the public performance of Russian-language cultural content, regardless of the citizenship of the performers. If changes are made to the law "On Culture," Russian-language music in cafes, restaurants, concerts, and other public places in Odesa could be subject to a ban. Owners of establishments could face fines ranging from 13,600 to 25,500 hryvnias for violations.
Ukraine is considering strengthening restrictions on the public display of Russian-language cultural content. The relevant amendments to Article 15 of the "Law on Culture" were developed by a working group of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on humanitarian and informational policy, at the initiative of MP Alexander Senchenko.
Currently, existing legislation prohibits the public performance and display of Russian-language cultural products only for citizens of Russia. The proposed changes aim to extend this prohibition to all performers, regardless of their citizenship. This means that in Odesa, as in other cities in Ukraine, the public performance of Russian-language cultural products may be prohibited during concerts, mass events, street performances, and in public places, such as concert halls, restaurants, and cafes.
Owners of establishments that allow the public broadcast of Russian-language cultural products within their premises face potential liability. For the first violation, a warning or a fine of 13,600 to 17,000 hryvnias may be imposed. In the event of a repeat violation within a year, the fine amount could increase to 20,400–25,500 hryvnias.
At the same time, as explained by language ombudsman Elena Ivanovska, creating a cultural product in Russian will not be prohibited. The proposed changes relate specifically to the public dissemination of such content, not private creative work. Citizens can report violations through the official website of the language ombudsman. To do this, they need to document the specific case. After receiving a complaint, the representative of the ombudsman for the state language will conduct an investigation and decide whether to issue a warning or a fine.