Zelensky signs new law toughening penalties for petty theft

Source: Vekrhovna Rada of Ukraine

On Wednesday,  Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a new law that toughens administrative penalties for petty theft. The legislation introduces stricter fines and alternative punishments for offenders.

Under the new law:

• For theft involving property worth up to 0.5 of the non-taxable minimum (up to 757 hryvnyas), penalties include fines ranging from 850 to 1,700 hryvnyas, community service for 20 to 30 hours, or administrative detention of up to 5 days.
• For theft where the property value is between 0.5 and 2 non-taxable minimums (758 to 3028 hryvnyas), offenders face fines from 1700 to 5,100 hryvnyas, community service for 30 to 40 hours, corrective labor for up to 1 month with a 20% wage deduction, or administrative detention from 5 to 10 days.
• Repeat offenders within a year will be fined 8500 to 17,000 hryvnyas, required to complete 40 to 60 hours of community service, face corrective labor for 1 to 2 months with a 20% wage deduction, or receive administrative detention from 10 to 15 days.
• For three or more offenses within a year, the fine ranges from 17,000 to 34,000 hryvnyas, or offenders may face administrative detention for 15 days.