Zelensky signs law jailing antisemites for up to eight years in Ukraine
New legislation introduces criminal penalties for antisemitic offences, including prison terms and fines
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who is Jewish, has signed a law introducing criminal penalties for antisemitism, including prison sentences of up to eight years.
The measure, known as Law No. 2037-IX, places antisemitic offences directly into Ukraine’s criminal code for the first time, moving beyond earlier legislation that defined such acts without setting out specific punishments.
Under the law, offences such as incitement to hatred, discrimination, or restriction of rights motivated by antisemitism can result in fines, restrictions on liberty, or prison sentences of up to three years.
Where aggravating factors are involved – including violence, threats, deception or abuse of official position – sentences can rise to up to five years.
In cases involving organised groups or serious consequences, offenders may face between five and eight years in prison. Courts can also prohibit individuals from holding certain positions.
Ukraine first adopted a legal definition of antisemitism in 2021, when Zelensky signed the law “On Preventing and Combating Antisemitism in Ukraine”. That legislation outlined forms of antisemitism and established legal responsibility, but did not introduce criminal sanctions.
The new law amends the country’s criminal code to make such acts prosecutable offences.
The United Jewish Community of Ukraine welcomed the move, stating: “We express our gratitude to the author of the draft laws, Maksym Buzhansky, for his systematic work on the adoption of the legislative initiatives.”
Ukraine has a long and complex Jewish history, including sites such as Babyn Yar, where tens of thousands of Jews were murdered during the Holocaust, as well as a present-day Jewish community and annual pilgrimages to Uman.
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