Curfews: Who Will Face Fines and Who Will Be Let Off?

Fines for Violating Curfew: Who Will Be Punished and Who Will Be Let Go

In Ukraine, penalties for curfew violations may be introduced. A corresponding bill has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada, initiated by the Cabinet of Ministers, and this document is currently being reviewed in parliament.

According to the proposed regulations, violators may face fines ranging from 850 to 1700 UAH, with repeat offenders facing penalties of 1700 to 3400 UAH.

Moreover, the bill specifies that the provisions regarding penalties do not apply when a citizen is heading to a shelter or returning from one during curfew after an air raid alert, providing medical or first aid, accompanying the wounded or seriously ill, conducting evacuation measures, or rescuing property, and in other situations that pose a threat to life or health.

However, the bill does not clarify, for example, how long a citizen can remain outdoors when returning from a shelter after an air raid alert has ended.

According to lawyers, this particular nuance could lead to corruption – one person may need a few minutes to return from a shelter, while another may require significantly more time.

"An incredible breeding ground for corruption could arise. It is impossible to specify a return time from a shelter. For one person, it may be 10 minutes, while another, due to health conditions, might take an hour, and some might be with children. But the most alarming part is not this. If the bill is adopted, police will focus on enforcing the plan and catching people who, for various reasons, are outside during curfew. In my opinion, this is a populist bill that will not reach a vote," says lawyer Andrey Mezhiritsky in a comment to TSN.ua.

The authors of the bill hold a different view. According to them, the goal of passing the bill is to ensure public order during the state of martial law.

"Currently, the requirements of legislation, particularly the Civil Protection Code of Ukraine, the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, the Law of Ukraine 'On the Legal Regime of Martial Law,' as well as other related legislative acts, need improvement considering the experience gained in organizing civil protection measures under conditions of armed aggression by the Russian Federation," states the explanatory note of the bill.

In turn, member of the parliamentary committee on national security, defense, and intelligence Fedor Venislavsky says that the bill aims to discipline those who allow themselves to have loud entertainment at night.

"If a person is going to a shelter or returning from one during curfew, even if the time is not specified, there is a legal concept of reasonable terms. This means the time a person physically needs to walk to or from the shelter. They certainly won't be wandering for two hours if it takes 15 minutes to get to the shelter from their home. I believe there won't be any issues if a person takes 20 or 25 minutes. The bill is primarily aimed at disciplining those who currently indulge in entertainment and leisure during curfew," Fedor Venislavsky commented to TSN.ua.