Ukraine

[UA] Decision of the media regulator about hate speech against LGBTIQ+

IRIS 2025-9:1/21

Yevheniia Burmahina

National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting

The Law of Ukraine “On the Media” contains a list of content restrictions in the media. These include the prohibition of disseminating statements that incite hatred, hostility, discrimination, and oppression of individuals or groups “based on ethnic or social origin, citizenship, nationality, race, religion and beliefs, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other characteristics.” The dissemination of such statements is considered a significant and serious violation that requires a response from the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting.

In July 2025, the National Council recorded a publication on the website of the NGO "Civic Movement 'All Together!'" titled “LGBT Flags Are More Important Than Ramps: Between Accessibility and Profanation,” expressing a negative attitude towards the LGBTQ+ community in Ukraine, as a result of official monitoring of media activities. Despite the fact that the NGO’s website is not a registered entity in the field of online media, the Law “On the Media” also applies to it.

The NGO’s publication was accompanied by an image. This image consisted of two parts showing two men sitting in wheelchairs. One of the men is dressed in a military uniform, and has a woman sitting on his shoulders holding an LGBT+ (rainbow) flag. The second man has an "individual with a disability" symbol on his clothing and is carrying a young man on his shoulders, who is also holding an LGBT+ (rainbow) flag.

As stated in the National Council's decision (Decision No. 1623 of 24 July, 2025), the image is provocative and offensive, as it combines sensitive topics for Ukrainian society: military uniforms, wheelchairs and the LGBTQ+ community. According to the National Council, its dissemination indicated a provocative intent to discredit certain groups and incite social hostility, thereby undermining trust in the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine. The National Council found that combining images of vulnerable social groups negatively stereotypes and stigmatizes this community, provokes violence, and incites hatred, hostility, and cruelty against individuals or groups based on sexual orientation.

It was also found that, in the context of the war in Ukraine, such content may aim to lower the morale of citizens and military personnel. Such content is incompatible with democratic values such as tolerance, social harmony, and the absence of discrimination.

According to the National Council, disseminating any stereotypes, stigmas, or prejudices against citizens of Ukraine based on sexual orientation violates the articles of the Constitution of Ukraine, which states that all citizens of Ukraine are free and equal in their dignity and rights. According to the Law “On the Media,” in the case of gross violations by an unregistered entity in the field of online media, a response measure in the form of a fine is applied.

In its decision, the National Council concluded that the materials of the NGO “Civic Movement 'All Together!" contained all the signs of hate speech. Therefore, the National Council identified a gross violation of the law and imposed a fine of 88,000 UAH (approximately 1,795 euros) on the NGO..

In turn, the NGO emphasised that such a decision is historic and sets a dangerous precedent. In their opinion, this is the first case in Ukrainian history where an organisation is penalised and fined for its Christian views and beliefs.

It should be noted that several complaints regarding discrimination based on sexual orientation were submitted to the National Council in 2025. In January 2025, a complaint was submitted to the National Council regarding the publication of the article “LGBT Movement and Pedophilia: Historical Connection,” which was posted on a website belonging to the NGO "Civic Movement 'All Together!'". The complainant alleged that the article incited hatred based on sexual orientation.

Additionally, in February 2025, the National Council received a further complaint regarding the publication of the article “More and More Printing Houses in Ukraine Refuse to Print LGBT Products” on the same website. The complainant claimed that the article violated the law. The article in question informed that a Ukrainian printing house refused to fulfill an order from the NGO “LGBT Military” to print products on the grounds of internal corporate rules of the printing house, one of which is the promotion of family values. The article was presented as a positive example on a national scale in combatting “LGBT propaganda,” as indicated by the title of the publication. Following a media investigation in May 2025, it received a fine of 40,000 UAH (approximately 816 euros).