Cabinet submits anti-discrimination bill to Rada
The Cabinet’s bill introduces three new concepts and raises questions about the limits of protecting religious beliefs.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a bill amending the Law “On the Principles of Preventing and Combating Discrimination in Ukraine.” This was reported by the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, where public electronic consultations have been opened, with comments accepted until June 10, 2026.
The document, signed by Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, introduces three new definitions. “Discrimination by association” refers to a situation in which a person is discriminated against because of their connection with other people who have protected characteristics. “Multiple discrimination” covers cases of pressure on several grounds at once. “Hate speech” is defined as any statements inciting violence, hatred, or discrimination on a broad list of grounds, including religious beliefs. All three concepts are added to Article 5 of the law as prohibited forms of discrimination.
The bill was drafted in implementation of the roadmap on the rule of law approved by the Cabinet in May 2025. Its declared aim is to align Ukrainian anti-discrimination legislation with the standards of the European Union and the Council of Europe.
If adopted, the bill would cover numerous cases of discrimination against believers and clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Whether it will be applied in favor of the UOC, however, remains unclear.
Experience in a number of European countries shows that, under an expanded interpretation, the concept of “hate speech” has been applied to the public expression of traditional religious beliefs – in particular, church teaching on marriage and family.
As the UOJ reported, MPs have requested the opening of a criminal case over discrimination against UOC believers. The issue of legal protection for faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church against hostile statements remains pressing amid the continued pressure on church communities.
