Mykola Tomenko: As Yet, the President and his Team are concerned only with the Problems of their Voters
Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, stated that after Viktor Yanukovych was elected the President and a new Government was formed, "the authorities refused to give at least nominal response to the appeals of the people´s deputies in opposition."
The Deputy Chairman reminded that under the Law of Ukraine "On the Status of a People´s Deputy", a people´s deputy is authorized to address the public authority and local self-government bodies, their officials, leaders of enterprises, establishments and organizations regardless of their form of ownership and subordination, public associations concerning the issues related to deputy activity.
However, M.Tomenko informed about the failure to respond to a number of his requests. He reminded that pursuant to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, non-fulfillment of the legitimate demands of a People´s Deputy of Ukraine by an official is punished by a fine at the rate of 100-1000 non-taxable incomes (UAH 1700-17000) or by imprisonment for up to six months or by confinement for up to three years.
M.Tomenko believes that such actions of the officials are provoked "either by the legal ignorance or by the fact that the team of Viktor Yanukovych take care only of the voters of V.Yanukovych." "Naturally, in his latest address, the President of Ukraine reported only to his voters, not the citizens of Ukraine", he stated. The Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine reminded that taking the oath on the Constitution of Ukraine and Peresopnytsia Gospel, the President assumed the responsibility for the welfare of Ukrainian people, promised to protect the rights and liberties of the citizens and fulfill his duties for the sake of the fellow citizens.
"At present, one shall understand whether the President and his team will further be concerned with the problems of their voters only. Otherwise, the voters who supported another candidate will have to think about the alternative system of protection of their rights and liberties", M.Tomenko stated.
The Deputy Chairman declared his intention to address the law-enforcement bodies regarding administrative and criminal responsibility of the officials who fail to implement the Law "On the Status of a People´s Deputy of Ukraine".