Having opened morning plenary session, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov informed that the Central Election Commission has almost finished calculation of election results owing to e-protocols and, after 100% of e-protocols have been processed, Petro Oleksiiovych Poroshenko won, having received 54,7% of votes.
The people’s deputies applauded P.Poroshenko in connection with election to the post of the President of Ukraine.
Oleksandr Turchynov informed about the meeting of the Conciliatory Council of leaders of deputy factions and groups, during which the decision was taken to grant a hearing to the Head of the Central Election Commission today. However, after the consultations held with the Central Election Commission, the decision was made to allow the Central Election Commission time for summarizing final election results, following protocols with wet stamps, and inform the Parliament about final election results of the President of Ukraine on Tuesday.
The Presiding reminded about elections in the city of Kyiv, following the results of which, Kyiv has its mayor – the people’s deputy Vitalii Klychko.
The people’s deputies congratulated the people’s deputy Vitalii Klychko on his election to the post of Kyiv mayor.
The Chairman informed that at present, the Prime Minister Arsenii Yatseniuk is in Brussels, where he holds difficult negotiations connected with Ukraine’s energy security. According to him, the Prime Minister asks to be granted a floor to report on Ukraine’s energy security next Tuesday.
Oleksandr Turchynov informed also that on May 21, 2014, the Central Election Commission has registered the people’s deputy of Ukraine Hanchukov Oleksandr Kostiantynovych, elected on October 28, 2012 in a multi-mandate nationwide district and included into the list of the Communist Party of Ukraine under No. 34.
The people’s deputy O.Hanchukov took an oath to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The Chairman informed that the people’s deputy Oksana Kaletnyk left the deputy faction of the Communist Party of Ukraine.
Parliamentarians granted a hearing to the information of the Minister of Science and Education Serhii Kvit on the procedure of admission to higher educational establishments in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Government official noted that in view of emergency events in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts and holding of Anti-terrorist operation, as well as significant problems connected with security, the Ministry of Education and Science jointly with the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment decided to hold Independent External Assessment in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts during the second session.
S.Kvit informed that the Ministry has stipulated the possibility of holding additional third session even in the universities.
The Chairman informed that “UDAR” and “Svoboda” factions ask for the possibility to make a statement.
He granted the floor to the “Svoboda” faction representative O.Myrnii who claimed that the faction demands immediate arrival of the Defence Minister to report on the course of the Anti-terrorist operation.
Oleksandr Turchynov informed that the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers is being held at present, and mandated to invite the Defence Minister to the plenary session.
The people’s deputies considered the issue of ratification.
The draft law on Ratification of the Memorandum of Understanding between Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on deployment of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (Reg. No. 0084) was reported by the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Serhii Kyslytsia.
The official noted that Ratification of the Memorandum and its coming into force will allow create proper conditions for work in Ukraine for the OSCE special monitoring mission.
Particularly, under the Memorandum, the mission will work across the whole territory of Ukraine. Main office of the Mission will be in Kyiv. At the initial stage, field offices will be opened in Kherson, Odesa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Chernivtsi, and Luhansk. Additional filed offices may be opened in other places across the whole Ukraine.
The Verkhovna Rada ratified the Memorandum of Understanding between Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on deployment of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine by 272 votes.
The people’s deputy Mykola Rudkovskyi suggested include into the agenda the bill on converting foreign currency debt service obligations into the national currency (Reg. No. 4895).
The colleagues supported Mykola Rudkovskyi. Parliament members included the bill registered under No. 4895 and the alternative one registered under No. 4895-1 into the agenda.
Several other bills were also placed on the agenda. In particular, the bills registered under No.: 4940, 4939, 4756, 4808, 4889, 4931, 4938, 4900, 4772 and 4897.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the Resolution “On providing proper medical services to combatants who suffered injuries in the course of holding Anti-terrorist operation (ATO) in the East of Ukraine in 2014” (Reg. No. 4897) by 234 votes.
Representatives of “Svoboda” faction suggested terminate powers of the people’s deputy Oleh Tsariov. One of the initiators – the people’s deputy O.Kaida, stressed that “within the building of the Parliament there are the people’s deputies that use their deputy authorities not for the benefit of the state, but against the state.”
Oleksandr Turchynov said that the Parliament has legal grounds to consider such issues. He entrusted the Secretariat to invite the Acting Prosecutor General, with the respective information, to the session hall.
Parliamentarians did not uphold the proposal to ask the people’s deputy H.Herman leave the session hall (137 votes in favor).
The Chairman informed that the deputy groups “Sovereign European Ukraine” and “Economic development” ask for the possibility to make a statement.
Representative of the “Sovereign European Ukraine” faction V.Lytvyn suggested invite the Defence Minister to the session hall in order to provide information on the course of the Anti-terrorist operation.
V.Lytvyn suggested consider amendments to the Law “On amendments to several laws of Ukraine re refinement of the defense and mobilization issues during mobilization” (Reg. No. 4785), elaborated by the Committee on National Security and Defence.
The Chairman announced a break in the meeting.
After the break, the Chairman granted the floor to the Defence Minister Mykhailo Koval in order to provide information about the course of the Anti-terrorist operation regarding financial provision of the Armed Forces and settlement of social issues of the military.
M.Koval informed that the majority of the Armed Forces is located in the predetermined regions, where there are defense groups, some part of which is included into the Anti-terrorist center and they fulfill tasks in line with the plan of the Anti-terrorist operation.
The Minister reported that “all the forces that are part of
Anti-terrorist operation are at full strength included by secret orders and fulfill
tasks only in line with the order. The fact that military units report them to
be on one of the training areas is merely a technical issue.”
M.Koval also reported that funding of the Armed Forces is well-timed. At the same time, he stressed some cases of abuse leading to dismissal of some officials.
The Minister claimed all tasks regarding the support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are carried out. In his words, at the beginning of the Anti-terrorist operation the food service was liquidated.
The Minister of Defence answered questions of people’s deputies. The question of O.Kuzmuk concerned terms of rotation of military units in the zone of militant actions.
M.Koval said that there will be no rotation. “We have brought out all forces and all means. We have covered all state borders. We are ready to accomplish the intended tasks. We have no odd people for rotation”, he said.
When answering the questions, the Minister informed about “an action plan approved by Acting President of Ukraine”. In his words, this plan has everything sorted out. “This plan will help the territory of Ukraine, east in particular, to get rid of separatists”.
Summing up, Oleksandr Turchynov said that all issues people’s deputies talked about will be discussed; a commission on partial mobilization of citizens will be formed.
The Chairman informed that near Sloviansk terrorists with Russian weapons MANPAD shot down our helicopter which carried military men for rotation, fourteen of our military men and general Kulchytskyi died.
Oleksandr Turchynov believes that “our Armed Forces and our law-enforcement structures will bring to an end the matter with terrorists. All criminals being financed by the Russian Federation will be destroyed or punished”.
People’s deputies commemorated the deceased with a minute of silence.
MPs considered the proposals of the Committee on National Security and Defence to making specifications to the adopted the Law “On amendments to several laws of Ukraine re improving defense and mobilization issues during the mobilization”.
Chair of the Committee on National Security and Defence V.Lytvyn informed about amendments the Committee suggests make to the law.
People’s deputies adopted these amendments.
The Chairman announced about I.Popesku entering the deputies’ group “Economic development”.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the Law “On amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re legacy registration” (Reg. No. 0985) with consideration of proposals of the President of Ukraine.
People’s deputies adopted as a basis the draft law on amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine (re taxation of inheritance) under Reg. No. 4281.
MPs considered remarks introduced to the draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re parking of transport vehicles and establishment of responsibility for violation of transport vehicles parking rules (reg. No. 2499).
The bill was adopted in the second reading and in entirety with consideration of some amendments with 242 votes.
Oleksandr Turchynov informed that on May 12, 2014 the Verkhovna Rada received the submission from Prosecutor General Oleh Makhnitskyi about granting consent for criminal prosecution of people’s deputy Tsariov Oleh Anatoliiovych and granting consent for his detention and appointing preventive measures in form of imprisonment.
The Chairman gave the floor to Prosecutor General Oleh Makhnitskyi who informed about investigating the cases of Tsariov Oleh Anatoliiovych public calls to violent overthrow or change of the constitutional order in Ukraine, and calls to change the territory of Ukraine.
O. Makhnitskyi claimed that according to investigation materials “people’s deputy of Ukraine Tsariov Oleh Anatoliiovych in the period of March-April, 2014 intentionally, openly, and using the mass media made public calls to a violent change and overthrow of the constitutional order of Ukraine”.
On the basis of the abovementioned, O. Makhnitskyi asked to consider his submission and give consent for criminal prosecution of people’s deputy Tsariov Oleh Anatoliiovych according to articles 109 and 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, his detention and appointing preventive measures in form of imprisonment.
Oleksandr Turchynov suggested vote for depriving people’s deputy O. Tsariov of authority at the plenary meeting on June 3.
However, MPs insisted on voting the same day, since “people’s deputy Tsariov called to fight against Ukrainian people”.
The Chairman put a proposal of depriving people’s deputy O. Tsariov of authority on a signal voting (206 in favour).
Oleksandr Turchynov was sure that the issue would be voted for on Tuesday.
The Chairman suggested consider two bills in the first reading – on amendments to the Budget Code of Ukraine re ensuring efficient functioning of the capital – Kyiv (Reg. No. 4940), and on amendments to several legislative acts re restoring efficient functioning of the capital – Kyiv (Reg. No. 4939).
People’s deputies did not uphold his proposal.
The Chairman adjourned the plenary meeting.
The next plenary meeting of the Verkhovna Rada will be held on Tuesday, June 3.