Ukraine’s Parliament Rejects Porn Decriminalization: Bill No. 12191 Falls Short of Votes.

Bill No. 12191 and Its Debate

According to Espreso.tv: Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada failed to pass Bill No. 12191, which aimed to decriminalize the production and distribution of pornography among consenting adults. On May 28, 2025, the legislation received only 207 votes, falling 19 short of the 226 needed for approval. This rejection unfolded amid a police scandal involving the alleged protection of porn studios.

Introduced in late 2024, the bill was debated against a backdrop of growing public outrage. Under Article 301 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, the creation, storage, and dissemination of pornographic materials is illegal, with penalties ranging from a fine of 17,000 to 85,000 hryvnias or up to seven years in prison. Notably, the Law on the Protection of Public Morality expired on March 31, 2023, a development that shaped the discussion around this bill.

In May 2023, prosecutors and Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) officers uncovered that law enforcement officials were shielding porn studios, bringing renewed scrutiny to Ukraine’s pornography regulations. Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko reported that over 22.6 million hryvnias in cash were seized during an anti-corruption operation, where regional office heads allegedly received $20,000 monthly for protection services. In the past year alone, nearly 1,500 offenses were recorded under Article 301 of the Criminal Code.

Discussions and Arguments

The debate on decriminalization sparked sharply divided opinions among lawmakers. Ivan Vyhivskyi expressed concern, stating:

“This full legalization will make everything accessible to minors.”

“You can ask them what is so divine about sending a woman to prison for two years for sending her own photo to her husband serving in the military.”

Key arguments in favor of decriminalization include:

• legal absurdity;
• the practice of ‘secret purchases’;
• the need to strengthen protections for minors.

Within the European Union, countries such as Hungary, Germany, Greece, Denmark, Ireland, Spain, Cyprus, Malta, Poland, the Netherlands, Finland, France, Croatia, and the Czech Republic have legalized pornography. In Ukraine, however, the situation remains fraught, underscoring the necessity for continued debate on this issue.

The failed attempt to pass Bill No. 12191 highlights the complexity and controversy surrounding porn decriminalization in Ukraine. Public sentiment, balancing adult rights and the protection of minors, remains at the forefront, complicating any clear-cut decisions. Discussions on this matter are likely to persist, drawing on international examples and the needs of Ukrainian society.