The law has been strengthened – stalkers now face prison time

The law will become stricter – “stalkers” can expect not only administrative but also criminal punishment

The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is becoming more and more popular every year. Visitors from all over the world come here for informational purposes. They travel according to officially approved routes, checked dosimetrically and under the constant supervision of an accompanying person, who not only tells interesting facts about the history of the alienated region, but also monitors compliance with the rules of radiation safety and acceptable conduct.

At the same time, cases of penetration, destruction of buildings or intentional settlement of buildings in Pripyat, abandoned houses of rural settlements, destruction, damage or transfer of signs of radiation pollution or fences of these areas, destruction of artifacts, intentional damage to buildings, painting objects with inscriptions that have a negative, abusive tone, violation of radiation safety requirements, which can lead to dangerous consequences for the environment.

One of the many reasons for these actions and phenomena was the leniency of the punishment for committing the above illegal actions.

This required increased responsibility, as well as the recognition of these acts as a criminal offense.

Today the Verkhovna Rada adopted in the first reading a bill providing for the imposition of fines, restrictions or imprisonment for illegal entry into the exclusion zone. 269 ​​people’s deputies voted for the relevant bill №4156 “On Amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses of Ukraine and the Criminal Code of Ukraine to Strengthen Liability for Violation of Radiation Safety Requirements in Areas Affected by Radioactive Contamination”.

In particular, the bill provides that for unauthorized entry into the exclusion zone, settlement, destruction, damage or transfer of signs of radiation pollution, fences of these zones illegals will be fined up to 42,500 UAH or a restriction of liberty from one to three years.

Moving in any way outside the exclusion zone or the zone of unconditional resettlement of food of plant and animal origin, industrial or other products, animals, fish, plants or any other objects without a statutory permit or dosimetric control will also be punished a fine up to 42,500 uah or restriction of liberty for a term of one to three years, or imprisonment for the same term.

Purchase for the use or sale of food, industrial or other products, if the fact of their origin from the exclusion zone or the zone of unconditional resettlement is known in advance to the guilty person, will be fined up to 44200 uah or restriction of liberty for a term of two to four years, or imprisonment for the same term.

The acts mentioned above, committed by an official or repeatedly, as well as if they caused death or other serious consequences, will be punishable by imprisonment for a term of three to seven years.

You are reminded that by booking a trip with Contamination Zone, we will process all permits and permissions for you. Our trips are 100% legal and safe, with police checking our paperwork and permits at each checkpoint. The best way to get a true “Stalker Experience” without the health risks or legal challenges, is to book a private tour!

Since you’re here…

Contamination Zone is a group of people who are united by our love for the Chernobyl Zone. We are a non-profit organisation and every year we raise thousands of euros for good causes in the Chernobyl Zone, such as firefighting equipment, monument restoration, animal welfare and more.

If you are planning or thinking about a trip to the zone, please check out our trips to Ukraine in 2023 and if you still have unanswered questions, feel free to get in touch!

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