The Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy opened the Thursday’s plenary session.
Morning session
Deadly helo crash
With deep regret, the presiding officer informed the chamber about yesterday’s wreck of an army helicopter MI-8 in the Rivne oblast (region), killing all hands aboard. A heavy toll of that murderous practice flight is as follows:
Ihor Mazepa,
Pavlo Datsiuk,
Volodymyr Popenko,
Vasyl Romenenko.
On behalf of the Verkhovna Rada, A.Parubiy expressed condolences to the families and relatives of the killed soldiers. With a minute of silence the delegates commemorated the four servicemen perished.
Today’s agenda
Then, the Chairman briefed on the agenda items that had been proposed for reviewing today.
The list of issues to be considered at the plenary meeting on May 30:
1. Draft resolution No.10125 “On the Appeal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the United Nations, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, national parliaments of foreign countries on the condemnation of violation of indigenous peoples’ rights in the Russian Federation”.
2. Draft resolution No.10341 “On the resignation of the Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Hroisman”.
3. Draft law No.6350 “On amendments to certain acts of law of Ukraine concerning granting leaves to adopters on adoption of an orphan child, a child deprived of parental care”.
4. Draft law No.10181 “On amendments to certain acts of law of Ukraine (as to the general military duty and military service).
5. A set of agrarian issues, including the draft bills No. 6527, 6527-1, 6527-d regarding agricultural cooperation.
6. Ratification of international agreements, alterations to the criminal code, a cluster of social policy issues.
Premier’s resignation
A.Parubiy announced that the plenary session is attended by members of the government headed by the Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroisman, and submitted the draft resolution No.10341 on the premier’s resignation for consideration.
Chairman Parubiy gave the floor to the prime minister, who then delivered the cabinet performance report over the past three years. A representative of the Committee on Legal Policy and Justice recommended the parliament to get through the resignation issue via casting a vote at the chamber. The draft premier’s resignation resolution was then put to the vote by the Chairman. The ballot returns made just 97 ayes. A.Parubiy urged the government to work on and gave the floor to the Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroisman.
The head of government stressed in his after-vote speech that he feels responsible to the country.
New member for Nat TV Radio Council
Afterwards, by 233 ayes the delegates approved Maksym Onoprienko, MP, to be a member of the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine. The presiding officer formally pronounced the said MP a member of the above body.
Evening session
After the break, parliamentarians proceeded with the agrarian issues. The bill No.6236-P, amending Ukrainians’ right to land was rejected upon a thorough analysis.
MPs then switched over to the three farming bills – No. 6527, 6527-1 і 6527-d – covering agricultural cooperation. The latter one was recommended by the sectoral (line) committee to be taken on the first reading by the parliament. Reviewing the bills shall continue at the plenary meeting on June 4, Tuesday.
The Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine was said to have finally had in his possession a committee decision on the draft bill shedding light on the issue of temporary committees of inquiry and temporary special (ad hoc) committees of the parliament. The paper shall be, too, seen through at the plenary meeting on June 4, Tuesday.
The presiding officer closed the session.
Laws, bills and resolutions passed: May 30
On leaves to adopters
--Draft law No.6350
By 248 ayes MPs passed the law “On amendments to certain acts of law of Ukraine as to granting leaves to adopters on adoption of an orphan child, a child deprived of parental care”. They have thus reworded the article 182 of the Labour Code of Ukraine, now granting a 56-day (or 70-day one if 2 or more kids adopted) one-off paid leave to workers who have adopted an orphan child or a child deprived of parental care, excluding holidays and non-working days after the court decision on adoption becomes effective.
Adoption leave for such workers is to be granted in accordance with the articles 179 and 181 of the code.
On new military ranks, duties and other novelties in UArmy
--Draft bill No.10181
By 231 ayes, the parliament passed on the first reading the draft bill “On amendments to certain acts of law of Ukraine (as to the general military duty and military service)”.
The bill is aimed to improve the law on military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations and law enforcement agencies in order to streamline the disciplinary powers of officers, to resolve certain issues of daily activities, to define the rights and duties of non-commissioned officers and other officials of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The bill is to introduce a new military rank system for Ukraine’s army and navy.
The relevant amendments are to be incorporated into the regulations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Laws "On general military duty and military service", "On law enforcement military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine". The bill is also to determine functions (duty regulations) for the new positions in the military.
The bill is also to amend the Disciplinary Regulations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine regarding rewards and disciplinary penalties for servicemen, in point of the ceremony of raising the State Flag of Ukraine; the Drill Regulations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine concerning the order of garrison and guard services, and the like.
On VR’s appeal to int’l organizations on violation of indigenous peoples’ rights in RF
--Draft resolution No. 10125
By 234 ayes, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine sanctioned the draft resolution “On the Appeal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the United Nations, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, national parliaments of foreign countries on the condemnation of violation of indigenous peoples’ rights in the Russian Federation”.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine was instructed to immediately send the text of the appeal out to the UN, parliaments of foreign states and parliamentary assemblies of international organizations.
On secondary education
--Draft bill No.10204
By 229 ayes, the parliament adopted the first reading of the Law of Ukraine “On complete general secondary education”. The bill is aimed to launch a new version of the above statute, which is to define organizational, legal and economic fundamentals of functioning and developing the educational system. The bill is also pointed to kill its predecessor – the Law of Ukraine “On general secondary education”.
The paper was drafted to settle pressing issues of accessibility and ensure an equal access for children to a complete general secondary education, including persons with special educational needs.
On support of Plast movement
--Draft law No.10184
Through 228 votes in favour, the parliament approved the Law of Ukraine “On state recognition and encouragement of the Plast National Scout Organization of Ukraine”. The draft law regulates state supporting the Plast organization and recognizes its historical contribution to the civil education of children and youth, establishment of Ukrainian statehood; creates the basics of state policy in support of Plast as the domestic scouting movement in Ukraine and in the world.
The new act of law shall alter the Laws of Ukraine “On culture”, “On extracurricular education” (out-of-school education) with the aim to frame the format of supporting the Plast movement.
Commemorative dates and anniversaries in 2019
--Draft resolution No.10295
The parliament passed the resolution “On amendments to the annex to the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine “On celebration of commemorative dates and anniversaries in 2019”.
Rada has hereby supplemented the above main paper with some new entries, namely: the 185th anniversary of the foundation of the National Pedagogical Drahomanov University (04.12.1834), the centenary of the foundation of the Podilskyi State Agrarian Technical University (1919), and the 5th of August - 175 years since the birthday of Illia Riepin, a renowned realist painter born in Chuhuiv (Ukraine).