Discussion of Legislative Amendments

On January 27, 2017, a roundtable discussion on a new draft law strengthening penalties for animal cruelty took place at the Aarhus Center at Ukraine’s Ministry of Ecology in Kyiv.

The legislation was developed by Volodymyr Boreyko, director of the Kyiv Ecological-Cultural Center, and Kharkiv lawyer Olha Shumilo.

The event was organized by the Association of Animal Protection Organizations of Ukraine and the Kyiv Ecological-Cultural Center, drawing participants from approximately 20 Ukrainian cities, including animal welfare representatives, environmental activists, Ministry officials, legal experts, and parliamentary aides.

AZOU President A. Serpinska emphasized that strengthening responsibility for animal cruelty has become extremely relevant in Ukraine. This applies not only to those who commit violence against animals but also to media outlets that commercially promote such abuse.

Boreyko highlighted that only 15 people annually face penalties under current legislation, contrasting sharply with approximately 230 annual cases in Moldova. He attributed this gap to outdated Soviet-era legal codes disconnected from the 2006 “Law on Protection of Animals from Cruelty.”

The proposed legislation would directly link criminal and administrative codes to existing animal protection statutes. Participants supported the draft’s framework and contributed substantial amendments.