On Friday, legislators in the Ukrainian Parliament, known as the Verkhovna Rada, revealed that they’ve gathered enough signatures for a bill that would decriminalize the production of pornography.
The main advocate behind the proposal, Yaroslav Zheleznyak, has argued that the existing laws foster corruption, and he contends that legalizing pornography could potentially generate financial support for the military.
Measure 9623 would amend Article 301 of Ukraine’s criminal code, which Zheleznyak called “nothing short of stupidity.” It does not change anything pertaining to child pornography, human trafficking, or prostitution.
“We are not even talking about OnlyFans, but about consuming this content in general,” he told the Kyiv Post, adding that sending someone to prison for up to eight years for sending or receiving nudes is a Soviet legacy.
Numerous Ukrainians are currently engaged in the production of pornography as part of their employment.
According to Zheleznyak, the state received over 34 million hryvnia ($920,000) in taxes in the first half of 2023 from sites such as OnlyFans, whose majority owner is Ukrainian-American businessman Leonid Radvinsky.
A charity using nudes to raise funds for the Ukrainian military has also helped with the initiative. Called ‘Teronlyfans,’ the group rewards those who donate to