Dowry Extortion: Criminal Liability

Article 189 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Extortion

1. Demanding the transfer of another's property or property rights or committing any property-related actions with the threat of violence against the victim or his close relatives, restricting the rights, freedoms or legitimate interests of these persons, damaging or destroying their property or property in their possession or under their protection, or disclosing information that the victim or his close relatives wish to keep secret (extortion), -

shall be punishable by restriction of liberty for a term of up to five years or imprisonment for the same term.

1. Extortion committed repeatedly, or by prior conspiracy by a group of persons, or by an official using his official position, or with the threat of murder or infliction of serious bodily harm, or with damage or destruction of property, or such that caused significant harm to the victim, -

is punishable by imprisonment for a term of three to seven years.

1. Extortion combined with violence dangerous to the life or health of a person, or which has caused property damage in large amounts, -

shall be punishable by imprisonment for a term of five to ten years with confiscation of property.

1. Extortion that caused property damage in particularly large amounts, or committed by an organized group or under conditions of war or a state of emergency, or combined with the infliction of serious bodily harm, -

shall be punishable by imprisonment for a term of seven to twelve years with confiscation of property.