The end of paid magic? In Ukraine, they want to punish fortune-telling, esotericism and occultism

In the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine a draft law No.15251 was registered proposing to introduce administrative liability for paid services of divination, magic, extrasensory perception, esotericism and occultism. The document was submitted on 15 May 2026. The initiator was Member of Parliament Heorhiy Mazurashu.

The idea is simple: if a person takes money for “fortune-telling”, “energy cleansing”, magical consultations or other occult practices, this may begin to be punished as an administrative offense. It also concerns advertising, popularization and dissemination of information about such services. So a typical announcement “I will bring back your lover, remove a curse, open a money channel” may become not a business offer but a reason for a fine. The irony is that now the future of fortune-tellers is truly murky – but because of legislators, not retrograde Mercury.

Publications referring to the text of the initiative state that such actions could incur a fine from 1000 to 2000 non-taxable minimums of citizens’ income with confiscation and disposal of the means and items used to provide such services.

A distinct political flavour is added by the fact that the topic appeared after sensational reports from the session of the High Anti-Corruption Court (VAKS) in the case of the former head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak. It was previously reported that he allegedly consulted with fortune-teller Veronika Anikiyovych on staffing issues. Korabelov.Info already wrote that during the hearing data was presented about contacts with a woman recorded as “Veronika Feng Shui Office”, which allegedly concerned possible appointments in state bodies.

For now the bill is only registered and still has to go through the parliamentary procedure. So it’s too early for fortune-tellers, tarot readers, psychics and all sellers of “success energy” to pack their cards away. But the signal is already clear: the state seems to want to look into their business not through a crystal ball, but through the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses (КУпАП).

Reminder, earlier we wrote:

• SAP: Yermak asked for advice from fortune-teller Veronika regarding appointments – from the Ministry of Health to the Prime Minister
• VAKS placed Andriy Yermak in custody with bail set at UAH 140 million in the case of laundering UAH 460 million
• NABU and SAP notified Yermak of suspicion of laundering UAH 460 million on elite construction near Kyiv
• Language Ombudsman asks the beauty industry, tarot readers and psychologists to switch to Ukrainian on the internet