Culture Bill Mandating Museum Evacuation Wins Backing in Ukraine's Parliament

Museum Evacuation and Digital Registry at Heart of New Culture Legislation

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: As Ukraine continues to counter Russia's full-scale invasion, protecting its cultural heritage has become a priority. The Verkhovna Rada has given initial approval to draft law No. 14391, which amends more than twenty existing pieces of legislation related to culture and heritage protection under wartime conditions. The bill introduces compulsory evacuation of museum funds, establishes an electronic registry of the Museum Fund of Ukraine, and allows for the temporary transfer of cultural valuables abroad. It also sets out insurance rules for museum items, updates book publishing regulations, strengthens safeguards for the information space, and plans to reinstate open competitions for leadership roles at cultural institutions once the current simplified wartime hiring process is lifted.

Core Components of the Proposed Law

Under the draft, museums would be required to evacuate their collections during martial law. The bill creates a legal framework for depositories of museum items, which could be established by state authorities or private legal entities. In addition, the Ministry of Culture would manage a centralized electronic register of the Museum Fund, with the Cabinet of Ministers setting the rules for how it operates.

The legislation also clears the way for temporarily moving cultural treasures abroad for evacuation and safekeeping. During martial law, restrictions on the length of time these items can remain outside the country may be lifted. Transporting museum pieces within Ukraine would be subject to new insurance requirements, though no mandatory insurance would apply if law enforcement officers accompany the shipments. Cultural property seized under sanctions could not be sold, and any transfer to cultural institutions would be on a permanent, unpaid basis.

• The definition of publishing product distribution would be expanded, with e-commerce sales explicitly included.
• Bookstores would find it easier to confirm their right to rent premises at preferential rates.
• New measures target the Ukrainian information space, enabling faster responses to the spread of anti-Ukrainian publishing material linked to Russia or Belarus.
• The eKnyha initiative would be expanded, and the waiting period for government assistance to buy books after the birth of a child would be removed.

After the simplified wartime appointment rules are lifted, competitions for leadership posts at cultural venues are expected to resume. For regions where security conditions make a standard competition impossible, a special procedure would be developed. The draft law is now being prepared for a second reading with amendments, according to the Ministry of Culture, which announced the vote and was reported by Rubryka.

Passing this bill marks an important milestone in safeguarding Ukraine's cultural legacy amid the ongoing conflict. - Ministry of Culture

Given the threats posed by hostilities, mandatory museum evacuation and the new electronic registry could substantially improve the protection of Ukrainian cultural treasures. The legislation also opens fresh avenues for the culture and publishing sectors, which is especially significant in the face of information warfare and the need to defend Ukrainian identity.