Yelizaveta Bohutska

Biography

Yelizaveta Bohutska was elected as a Member of Parliament of the 9th convocation representing the “Servant of the People” party (#95 on the party list, running as a non-partisan candidate). She joined the “Servant of the People” faction and was elected as a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy. She has repeatedly attracted public attention due to provocative and controversial statements. Among other things, she once called democracy during wartime a “mistake” and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, refused to get vaccinated, claiming that “alcohol, a sauna, and sex” were effective ways to cope with the virus. In parliament, she was seen wearing a lace mask with holes in it. During a discussion with sociologist Ievhen Holovakha, she referred to him as a “grandpa from the past,” for which she later apologised.

Originally from Crimea, Bohutska demonstrated a pro-Ukrainian stance during the first year of the temporary occupation and left the peninsula only after her home was searched by Russian authorities. In the past, she publicly supported Petro Poroshenko, and later joined Mikheil Saakashvili’s team.

Timeline of Key Events

2026

Voted in the first reading for the controversial draft Civil Code (15150) submitted by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk. The 803-page draft, which the Ministry of Justice had not managed to review within three weeks of registration, was fast-tracked through parliament. The legislative initiative contained provisions allowing for the carve-up of state and municipal property—forests, coastlines, and subsoil resources. Additionally, the project contained risks to freedom of speech. Following the parliamentary vote, street protests broke out in several regions. A petition demanding a veto garnered over 25,000 signatures on the first day of registration. Judges of the Supreme Court also expressed substantial objections. The draft Civil Code, which had not undergone proper discussion, effectively destroyed judicial practice developed over 20 years.

2025

Voted for the liquidation of the independence of anti-corruption bodies, namely the NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Draft Law #12414). Following public and international pressure, the parliamentary majority later voted for project #13533, which restored the powers of these anti-corruption bodies.

Supported the project regarding a special procedure for the compulsory alienation of land in the Uzhhorod district of the Zakarpattia region (#9549). The initiative contained scandalous provisions creating risks for both deforestation and corrupt schemes involving the purchase of real estate using budget funds at 3–3.6 times the market price. The President vetoed the bill, but the majority ignored most objections during revision. Additionally, provisions were added legalising a corrupt scheme for local governments to develop detailed plans contrary to settlement master plans until 2028.

Voted for the so-called “Ihor Mazepa Law” (Draft Law 12089), which provided for the “resetting” of claims regarding illegally acquired forests and coastal lands if ten years had passed since they entered private ownership.

Supported Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk’s controversial bill to abolish the Commercial Code of Ukraine (#6013), which posed risks to national security and threatened a large-scale redistribution of assets as the Verkhovna Rada had not approved a list of property exempt from privatisation.

2024

Became one of 212 MPs who voted for bill #10242 on pressuring journalists and their sources. The bill proposed amending the Criminal Code to provide for up to 8 years of imprisonment for disclosing information from state registers during martial law, with no exceptions for journalists or whistleblowers.

Voted for bill #8371, which provided for the ban of religious organisations whose governing centres are located in a state carrying out armed aggression against Ukraine.

Stated the necessity of military censorship and reiterated that democracy during wartime is a “mistake.”

Shared a post regarding dubious “predictions” by an obscure “Afghan mathematician-prophet,” claiming Russia would see an economic upswing in 2025, and published a “numerological prediction” in 2024.

2023

Supported the “Medical Cannabis Legalization” bill (#7457), which allowed the production of medical cannabis in Ukraine for the rehabilitation of wounded military personnel, including for the treatment of PTSD.

Voted for bill #9296-d on strengthening financial monitoring of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), introducing a lifelong PEP status for top officials instead of the previous three-year post-resignation limit.

2022

Voted for the urban planning “reform” (#5655), authored by the head of the “Servant of the People” party, Olena Shulyak. The initiative was widely criticised by the civil sector and media, and Chatham House (UK) warned that the rules created a risk of construction cartels forming. The European Parliament and the European Commission also expressed critical reservations.

Published a post on Facebook regarding Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure in eastern and southern Ukraine, in which she controversially stated: “A terrible thought, of course, but it would be understandable if they wiped Western Ukraine off the face of the earth. Like, as if they were fighting ‘Banderism’.”

Initiated bill #7393, “On Recognizing the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin as a War Criminal.”

After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, she did not support including the issue of increased funding for the Armed Forces on the Verkhovna Rada’s session agenda.

2021

Registered a draft law “On Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine on the Protection of the Ukrainian Language as a State Language,” proposing fines, arrest, and imprisonment for public mockery of the language.

Mocked President Zelenskyy’s initiative to pay 1,000 hryvnias to Ukrainians who received COVID-19 vaccinations.

2020

Co-authored the “Media Law” (#2693-d), which provided for the regulation of online media, bloggers, and web platforms, and expanded the powers of the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting.

Signed a resolution to dismiss Arsen Avakov from the post of Minister of Internal Affairs.

Supported the removal of Serhii Syvokho from his role as an advisor to the Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council.

Protested against mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic and refused vaccination, famously stating that “alcohol, a sauna, and sex” were effective defences.

Voted for the “Anti-Kolomoisky Law” (#2571-d), which prohibited the return of insolvent banks to their former owners.

2019

Elected as a People’s Deputy of the 9th convocation.

During a parliamentary session, was photographed texting an contact named “Lenochka,” discussing an alleged “putsch” by Petro Poroshenko planned for December and the decision to keep Arsen Avakov as Interior Minister.

2018

Violated traffic regulations by parking on a sidewalk, obstructing pedestrians. In the same year, she was involved in a fatal car accident; she stated the pedestrian was intoxicated and crossing the street against a red light.

2017

Supported Sviatoslav Vakarchuk, who later led the “Holos” party.

2015

Founded the NGO “All-Ukrainian Movement ‘Force of Law’.”

2014

Forced to leave Crimea following a search of her home by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) due to her pro-Ukrainian stance. In the 2010s, she was a well-known civic activist and blogger.

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