Ukraine Sets Limits for Russian Books and Music

Ukraine's parliament voted Sunday through two laws that would impose severe restrictions on Russian books and music, as Kiev seeks to undermine many remaining cultural ties between the two countries following Russia's invasion.

A law will ban printing of books by Russian citizens, unless they give up Russian passports and receive Ukrainian citizenship. The ban will apply only to those with Russian citizenship after the fall of Soviet rule in 1991.

Ukraine will also ban the commercial import of printed books in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine's occupied territory, while it will also seek special permission to import books into Russian from any other country.

Another law will ban the playing of music by Russian citizens after 1991 in the media and in public transportation, raising quotas for Ukrainian speech and musical content on television and radio broadcasts.

The laws must be signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to enter into force, and there is no indication he opposes. Both received wide support from the entire room, including from lawmakers who were traditionally seen as pro-Kremlin by most of Ukraine's media and civil society.

Ukraine's Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko said it was the happy “to welcome” new restrictions, air time.net.

“Lugs are designed to help Ukrainian authors share quality content with the widest possible audience, which after the Russian invasion does not accept any Russian creative product at a physical level”, the Ukrainian cabinet website quoted him as saying.