The Chairman gave the floor to representatives of the parliamentary factions and groups for making their announcements, statements, reports, and proposals.

After the speeches, parliamentarians switched over to reviewing the issues according to the business of the day.

Laws, bills and resolutions passed

More heed to social protection of children

--Draft bill No.7537

By 241 ayes there has been passed the bill No.7537 amending the Article 1 of the law of Ukraine “On health improvement and recreation for children” with the aim to recognize children of journalists, who perished or were injured while on duty, as children in need of particular social attitude and support. The bill re-drafts paragraph 14 of the Article 1 (part I) of the above law by complementing it with three new definitions in the following wordings: “children with disabilities”, “including children of journalists, who perished or were injured while on duty”, and “children, one of whose parents was classified to be of I or II disability category”.

On extradition

--Draft bill No.6149

The parliament adopted the law of Ukraine “On amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine in connection with ratification of the Third Additional Protocol and Fourth Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Extradition”.

The bill revises Chapter 44 “Rendition of persons, who committed a criminal offence (extradition)” (in particular, articles 575, 576, 581, 583-585, 591, 593 and 208). The draft law also redrafts the Article 588 “A simplified procedure of extradition from Ukraine”.

The changes are aimed at implementing the provisions of the Third and Fourth Additional Protocols to the European Convention on Extradition and improving the existing extradition procedure of offenders (from Ukraine) sought by foreign authorities for criminal investigations or execution of a sentence.

The law grants a person the right to claim for the use of a simplified (shortened) extradition procedure immediately after the detention in connection with being in the international wanted list, without waiting for a formal extradition request. The law shortens duration of stay of the detained in Ukraine for further extradition. However, the Article 588 specifies the shortened procedure cannot be applied if such extradition is deemed to be against Ukraine’s national security interests or the detainee is a Ukrainian citizen.

On ensuring official publication of laws

--Draft bill No.6518

The parliament has carried the law “On amendments to certain laws of Ukraine to ensure a formal promulgation of Ukraine’s laws and regulatory acts”. By changing a cluster of official publication-related Ukrainian regulations, the bill delivers preciser procedures for promulgation of legislative documents.   

On situation at PACE

--Draft resolution No.9089

There has been taken the parliamentary resolution “On the Statement of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine about the situation at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe”.

The paper condemns those shameful endevours to lift restrictions over Russia, which are against the Assembly’s decisions and to introduce amendments to the charter documents altering the mere fundamentals of the body. The document triggers an immediate sending the resolution’s text out to PACE and the Council of Europe’s parliaments.

On legal status of foreigners and apolides

--Draft bill No.3433

On the first reading, there has been taken the draft bill No.3433 “On amendments to certain legislative enactments (as regards the legal status of foreigners and stateless persons who participated in defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty)”. The bill is to amend the laws of Ukraine “On legal status of foreigners and stateless persons” and “On citizenship of Ukraine”.

In particular, the amendments are tasked to introduce a new definition “participation in defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty” in the law of Ukraine “On legal status of foreigners and stateless persons” regarding those foreigners and stateless persons who rendered hands-on assistance to units (subunits) which take part in the anti-terrorist operation.

The bill also regards the above defenders as those who stay in Ukraine legitimately, thus enabling them to obtain a temporary residence permit in force until cessation of their defending mission.

The bill also sets certain limits over voluntary or forcible return (deportation) of the said foreign (non-Ukrainian) defenders to an aggressor state or states not recognizing Ukraine’s territorial integrity, or backing aggression against Ukraine. Through amending the law on Ukrainian citizenship, the said foreign defenders shall be entitled to fast-track acquisition of Ukraine’s citizenship.

On 'persons with disabilities' and the term derivations

--Draft bill No.8358

The Verkhovna Rada approved the law “On amendments to certain legislative enactments of Ukraine on the usage of the term “a person with a disability” and its derivations”.

The bill alters 77 legislative acts of Ukraine exchanging outdated terms “invalid”, “child invalid”, “invalid since birth” and the like for new terms “person with a disability”, “disabled child” (child with a disability), “person disabled since birth”, “war-disabled person” and the like respectively.

On bullying

--Draft bill No.8584

On the first reading there was taken the bill “On amendments to certain legislative enactments of Ukraine on counteraction to bullying”. The bill offers to legally define a concept of bullying, how to counteract this phenomenon, protect the rights of children and other persons who work in educational institutions, as well as establish administrative responsibility for bullying and concealing the cases by whosoever at the said institutions.

The bill also triggers fines for bullying itself and concealing the facts by introducing a new corresponding Article 173-4 to the Administrative Offences Code of Ukraine. The appropriate amendments to the law of Ukraine “On Education” (Article 30) distribute the bullying responsibility (including elaboration of anti-bullying measures) among the managing staff at an institution, binding it to give wide coverage to any bullying-related occurrence through official websites.      

The presiding officer closed the meeting.