What freedoms and rights do you have living in Ukraine? Let’s go one by one starting with relevant points of the Bill of Rights of the United States and branch off into a few other items.

I am absolutely open to correction on any of the following points – the following is based upon my observation and understanding. I welcome elaboration from anyone who knows better – I think these are all points worthy of knowing and developing awareness about. In my own opinion, I believe Ukraine is essentially as free as the United States on a preponderance of issues – on some items less “free” and on others more “free”. There are assuredly pros and cons to each point and degree of freedom.

In terms of daily, responsible living I feel about 95% as safe in Ukraine as I do in the United States. The 5% of discomfort applies almost entirely to not knowing and being able to read Ukrainian to acquire the exact specifics of Ukrainian Law coupled with not fully knowing its bureaucratic dynamics. Conversely, if it came to needing a lawyer – most are not charging $250 an hour.

1. Freedom of Religion – Yes. There are many faiths and denominations openly practiced in Ukraine. There is very little religious discrimination. What does exist is isolated to relatively small fundamentalist groups and individuals. The most noteworthy instances apply to anti-Semitism, and more broadly to gypsies.

2. Right to Bear Arms – Generally no, but possible with very difficult to obtain government licenses. Lethal crime in Ukraine is dramatically lower than in the United States.

3. Protection from Quartering of Troops – Generally Yes. Since the independence of Ukraine there has been no reason to test this.

4. Protection from Unreasonable Search and Seizure – Generally Yes. My understanding is that there is at least some basic protection requiring just cause and process of securing warrants to inspect one’s home; but that this does not necessarily extend to vehicles.

5. Right to Due Process – Yes, though the legal system cannot be equated directly to what exists in the United States.

6. Right to Trial by Jury – Very generally, yes – but this tends to be reserved to very important cases and is usually not desirable for several reasons.

7. Civil Trial by Jury – Very generally, yes – but civil laws and structure does not remotely correlate to the United States.

8. Prohibition against excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment – Generally yes, but only in theory. In practice it can be said that Ukrainian prison presents a strong deterrent to crime.

9. Protection of non-specified rights – Generally yes, very vague and broad as again Ukrainian law is not quite as detailed as in the United States.

10. Freedom of Speech – Yes, but with definite caveats. Criticism of the government is permitted, but it is appropriate to understand that elements of corruption run deep and thick. While it is very unlikely that retaliation would be directed against someone who criticizes the government, aggressive criticism of specific individuals and organizations could invite non-legal means of retaliation. Broadly though, the level of freedom of speech is more or less comparable to that which exists in the United States. What you say in the United States and Ukraine might cost you an arm and a leg, the only real difference applies to the type of currency.

11. Voting – All citizens of Ukraine have the right to vote.

12. Drinking – Drinking is legal in Ukraine. Driving under the influence is very illegal.

13. Drugs – All narcotics are illegal in Ukraine.

14. Cigarettes – Ukraine is, for the most part, a designated smoking area unless posted otherwise. You can smoke in your living room without fear of going to prison. You can smoke in a bar without fear of being mobbed by half the state of California.

See... According to Cocteau's plan, I'm the enemy because I like to think. I like to read. I'm into freedom of speech and freedom of choice. I'm the kinda guy who likes to sit in a greasy spoon and wonder, "Gee, should I have the T-bone steak or the barbecued ribs with the side order of gravy fries?" I want high cholesterol. I wanna eat bacon, butter and buckets of cheese, ok? I wanna smoke a Cuban cigar the size of Cincinnati in the non-smoking section. I wanna run through the streets naked with green jello all over my body reading Playboy magazine, why? Because I suddenly might feel the need to, OK pal? I've seen the future, know what it is? It's a 47-year old virgin sitting around in his beige pajamas drinking a banana-broccoli shake, singing "I'm an Oscar Meyer Wiener.”
-- Dennis Leary, from the movie “Demolition Man”

By this standard, would you get arrested, sued or shot at in Ukraine? Probably not. There are at least a few days in Odessa where even running around naked with green jello all over your body would be almost perfectly acceptable. Finding green jello might be difficult, but at worst, you might get fined about 100 Hryvnia. It’s not lawless, but Ukraine and Ukrainians have a sense of humor, they eat real bacon, use butter, and they love cheese.