Russian_book_ban_in_Ukraine
Russian book ban in Ukraine
2016 law restricting imports of Russian books into Ukraine
The Russian book ban in Ukraine took effect on December 30, 2016, when President Petro Poroshenko signed a law that restricted import of books into Ukraine from Russia.[1] This is an element of the ongoing military conflict between Ukraine and Russia.[2]
According to the law, one person can import at most 10 Russian books without a permit. Unauthorized distribution of books from Russia is also banned.[1]
In light of Russia's continuing 2022 invasion on Ukraine, on 19 June 2022, the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) adopted a follow-up law. It bans any imports of all book and publishing production from the Russian Federation and Belarus, alongside the Ukrainian territories under Russian occupation.[3] In addition, all imported Russian-language publications from third countries (that is, mainly other post-Soviet states) must be first screened for any anti-Ukrainian content before allowed for distribution and sale in Ukraine.[4] President Zelenskyy signed the law on 22 June 2023.[5]
Another stipulation is that beginning on 1 January 2023, it is permitted in Ukraine to publish books only in Ukrainian, the languages of Ukraine's indigenous ethnic groups[6] (that is, Crimean Tatar, Karaim and Krymchak), alongside the official languages of the European Union.[7] Furthermore, during the same seating, the Parliament adopted a law[8] that bans importing, staging and broadcasting Russian and Russian-language music in Ukraine.[9]