The Verkhovna Rada refused to support a bill to decriminalize pornography. According to the Ukrainian News agency, 207 MPs voted in favor of Bill No. 12191, falling short of the required minimum of 226 votes.
"It’s very unfortunate. For those who didn’t vote ‘yes,’ it will remain prohibited," commented Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk on the voting results.
Lawmakers also did not support Stefanchuk’s proposals to send the bill back for a second first reading (212 in favor) or to return it to the sponsor for revision (215 in favor).
"Unfortunately (rejected), I would have liked to see real liberalization, but apparently the Soviet mindset is still firmly entrenched," Stefanchuk noted.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, Yaroslav Zhelezniak, a Verkhovna Rada Member from the Holos faction, stated that amid the investigation into law enforcement officials "protecting" "porn offices," the Verkhovna Rada intends to decriminalize pornography.
In May, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the Prosecutor General's Office conducted searches at three regional departments of the National Police in connection with a case involving a scheme in which law enforcement officials provided cover for the operation of “porn offices.”
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