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"I don't want some government agency controlling our art," he
said. "I would prefer to have government officials attending our
performances as regular viewers instead."
The theatre is currently performing Arthur Schnitzler's "Round
Dance of Love: Ten Erotic Scenes."
Olesya Oslrovska, curator of Podil's Center for Contemporary
Art, which often presents provocative works, noted that the bill
"creates a field for manipulation," especially with its unclear
definitions of pornography and erotica. "This would create a
situation where any artist could be accused," she said.
Mykola Tomenko, head of parliament's freedom of speech and
information committee, said that not only is he against the law,
but he doubts it is necessary. He said that the country already has
legislation, including the criminal code, regulating pornography.
Tomenko said that creation of the expert commission would
inevitably lead to abuses of power and bribery, and said that the bill
created "yet another threat to freedom of speech and expression."
"I hope that President Kuchma will veto the bill," Tomenko
said, grinning. "If the president decides that we don't
have sex in Ukraine, then all law-abiding citizens, including me,
will have to comply."
One popular media outlet indicated that it did not oppose the
bill.
Yury Khlystun, Fakty’s deputy duel editor, said that if I he
president signs the bill, his newspaper would comply with it.
"We are a law-abiding newspaper," he said.
He said that the newspaper might be able to avoid the opaque-
packaging provision by moving the nude photographs
off the back cover.
"As far as I know, the law takes effect in January. Then, we'll
take those provocative photos off the last page and move them
inside," he said.

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