PLENARY MEETING OF THE THIRD SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WAS HELD ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20.
Having opened the morning session, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak informed that it is the Day of Militia today. He congratulated all the veterans and militia personnel who honestly perform their complicated and risky service for the good of Ukrainian people on their professional holiday. The Chairman wished them sound health, happiness and high professional achievements in the name of Ukraine.
The Chairman informed that the Prosecutor General V.Pshonka and members of the Cabinet of Ministers are present in the session hall.
Prosecutor General Viktor Pshonka informed people’s deputies about the events that took place on the night of November 30 and December 1, 2013 regarding participants of mass meetings on the Independence Square on Bankova Street. He noted that “violation of public order led to opposition between the participants of mass meetings and the law-enforcement officers. Following all these facts, the prosecutors’ office and the law-enforcement bodies conduct a pre-trial investigation.”
V.Pshonka informed also that investigation of events on November 30 and December 1 is under his personal control. “Information on the abuse of power on the part of militia personnel during the mass meetings on the morning of November 30 was referred to the Single registrar that very day. Investigation is carried out by the Central Investigation Department of the General Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine,” he noted.
According to the Prosecutor General, investigation has revealed that counteraction to establishment of the Christmas tree on Independence Square by separate demonstrators was a direct reason to involve law-enforcement officers.
V.Pshonka informed about the measures taken those days on the part of law-enforcement bodies to protect public order.
According to him, “at present, more than 20 persons were interrogated, including leadership of Kyiv militia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and personnel of the specialized unit Berkut.”
“Interrogation has confirmed 88 appeals on infliction of bodily harm by law-enforcement officers during the opposition on November 29-30. In general, 2 persons were hospitalized. There were 7 students, 2 foreigners, 3 young persons and 7 journalists among the injured. The rest 70 persons are adult civilians,” informed V.Pshonka.
The Prosecutor General noted that there are objective factors that prevent from completing investigation in a short time.
V.Phonka informed also about the developments on December 1 that started as a peaceful demonstration between Mykhailivska and Sofiivska Squares and moved on to Khreshchatyk Street and the Independence Square, where seizure of administrative buildings started from.
V.Pshonka informed that two criminal proceedings were registered in the Single registrar of pre-trial investigations in connection with the abovementioned developments near the Administration of the President.
The Prosecutor General mentioned several other criminal proceedings started in connection with these events.
In general, 220 persons addressed medical institutions in the result of events on December 1, including 119 law-enforcement bodies, 3 foreigners, 4 young people, 7 students and 24 journalists.
According to him, for the period of November 24 – December 14, 40 criminal proceedings were started.
“Analysis of investigation materials shows that the mentioned provocations and offences involve members of radical groups,” he said.
V.Pshonka said that the people’s deputies have a right to get acquainted with materials, given to the General Prosecutor’s Office by the Security Service of Ukraine.
The Prosecutor General drew attention to the case that “called for violence and overthrow of the existing government.” “We can not treat these events frivolously and irresponsibly. Our country can not become a ground for training of militants and different radical groups. We hold responsibility for morality of the society, for unity of the society and for peace of the society. It is obvious that everyone has their truth and this is shown by the reaction to the speech of Prosecutor General of Ukraine. However, objectiveness has not been cancelled,” he stressed and suggested the people’s deputies “to watch footage of the events for preserving this objectiveness.”
V.Pshonka claimed that “citizens have the right to peaceful assembly. At the same time, such events can not exceed the safe limits, and street actions can not develop into aggression and hinder state authorities’ activity.”
The people’s deputies watched footage of events taking place on the night of November 29 to November 30 and on December 1 at Independence Square and Bankova street.
V.Pshonka answered questions of the people’s deputies.
V.Pshonka claimed that the main task of the investigation is to establish the truth and objectiveness. “Liability of both radical protesters and law-enforcement officers will be established,” he said.
Answering the question about his resignation, he said that “I know the law well and it is not necessary to scare me. Fate of the Prosecutor General is decided in this hall and you know that the President will decide this in the future. Let’s act according to the law. Act according to the law.”
The Prosecutor General also expressed his opinion on the suggestions of the Constitutional Assembly working groups demanding to deprive the Prosecutor General’s Office of general supervision functions. He claimed that the Verkhovna Rada considered in the first reading the draft law on the prosecutor’s office. There are also opinions of the Venice Commission.
Leader of the All-Ukrainian union “Svodoba” faction O.Tiahnybok, addressing the Prosecutor General, accused him of “bias and one-sideness of the materials shown.”
Leader of “UDAR” faction V.Klychko, addressing the Prosecutor General, claimed that after the footage shown he, as a participator of the events, can say that it was a peaceful demonstration consisting of almost a million people. He asked “Who organized beating of people on November 30 and December 1? Who gave the permission to conduct a violent act on December 11 at night?” and asked to give a specific answer.
V.Pshonka answered that “today it is not possible to name the official who gave this order. All radio conversations of “Berkut” were investigated and there isn’t even a word concerning any officials giving the order. Still, we understand that the order can be given not only during the radio conversation but in some other way – this is now being established by the investigation.”
The Prosecutor General also answered other questions of the people’s deputies.
Members of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Prosecutor General left the session hall.
Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Koshulynskyi voiced deputies’ inquiries.
Ending the meeting, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak congratulated everyone on the New Year and Christmas. “Let these great winter holidays bring us peace and harmony in the country,” he stated.
Volodymyr Rybak wished everyone good health, family happiness, prosperity and welfare. “I wish you good mood – we do not always have to be in a bad mood – love, happiness, energy and new achievements for the benefit of Ukrainian people,” he said and adjourned the plenary meeting.
The next plenary meeting of the third session will be held on Tuesday, January 14, 2014.