PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WERE HELD ON TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2014.
Having opened the morning meeting, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov informed that yesterday forces of the Anti-terrorist operation from the air destroyed checkpoints of terrorists in Luhansk Oblast, and attacked their units. “Today in the morning quite a lot of terrorists, that were located in the camp near Sieverodonetsk, were destroyed. Actions of anti-terrorist forces are successful”, he claimed.
The Chairman announced about people’s deputy Oleksandr Hanchukov entering deputies’ faction of the Communist Party of Ukraine and about people’s deputies Yevhen Balytskyi, Oleksandr Vasyliev, Volodymyr Vecherko, Serhii Horokhov, Vitalii Hrushevskyi, Anatolii Denysenko, Vitalina Dzoz, Oleksandr Dudka, Oleksandr Kozub, Viacheslav Lukianov, Valentyna Liutikova, Yevhenii Muraiev, Volodymyr Oliinyk, Taisia Povalii, Oleksandr Ponomariov, Yurii Samoilenko, Volodymyr Struk, Viktor Tykhonov, and Volodymyr Chub resigning from the Party of Regions faction.
Representatives of deputies’ factions and groups reported their announcements, claims, messages and suggestions. Speeches concerned the anti-terrorist operation on the east of Ukraine.
Acting Chairman of “Batkivshchyna” faction Serhii Soboliev claimed that “the anti-terrorist operation has moved to a totally new phase. This is connected with the fact that President of the Russian Federation Putin and his immediate surrounding gave a command about direct invasion to the territory of Ukraine”.
S. Soboliev suggested “immediately settle the issue on a possibility of providing those who live in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts and reside on the territories where military actions are carried out with a status of temporary immigrants”.
Chair of “Svoboda” faction O.Tiahnybok claimed that “now we are not supposed to be afraid to adopt an important and decisive decision on introducing a martial law in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts in order to conduct a full-scale military operation to destroy terrorists who prevent Ukrainian state from developing, and who carry out terrorist actions against citizens of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts”.
O.Tiahnybok informed about legislative initiatives of “Svoboda” faction, particularly, an elaborated draft resolution on participation of Ukrainian citizens in protection of public order and state border.
“Svoboda” faction also demands to conduct lustration in the country. “If lustration is not conducted in Ukraine, we will not be able to implement all those plans concerning reforms of Ukrainian state and strengthening the country’s defence capacity”, claimed O.Tiahnybok.
Representative of the deputies’ group “Economic Development” Anatolii Kinakh informed that the group insists on establishing direct contacts between the Verkhovna Rada and newly-elected President of Ukraine in short terms.
In response to the speech of V.Medianyk from the Party of Regions, Oleksandr Turchynov addressed people’s deputies asking them “to state objective information”.
People’s deputies commemorated military men who died in the course of the anti-terrorist operation with a minute of silence.
MPs granted a hearing to Chair of the Central Election Commission Mykhailo Okhendrovskyi who made public official results of presidential elections of May 25, 2014. He informed that “yesterday, on June 2, the Central Election Commission drew up a protocol on results of the presidential elections in Ukraine according to which, following the results of the vote, Petro Poroshenko was elected as the President of Ukraine having 9 857 308 votes, which is 54,7%. Today respective messages will be published in the mass media”.
M. Okhendrovskyi reminded under what conditions these elections were held, and informed that they were held in all regions of Ukraine. “Elections were held in 189 territorial constituencies and in a foreign constituency. On May 25, 29 213 polling stations were opened”, he stated.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Resolution “On date, time and place of a solemn meeting of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine dedicated to taking an oath to the Ukrainian people by the newly-elected President of Ukraine”. The Resolution stipulates hold a solemn meeting of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine dedicated to taking an oath to the Ukrainian people by the newly-elected President of Ukraine on June 7, 2014 at 10 a.m. in the session hall of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
MPs agreed to bring people’s deputy O.Tsariov to criminal responsibility, detain and arrest him (235 votes in favour), and to imprison him (226 in favour).
On request of the Party of Regions and the Communist Party of Ukraine factions, the Chairman announced a break for half an hour.
After the break, the Chairman gave the floor to Oleksandr Yefremov who claimed that yesterday Ukrainian aviation delivered an air thrust onto the building of Luhansk Oblast Administration as a result of which at least 7 peaceful civilians died and many were injured.
O. Yefremov suggested adopt the resolution on acknowledging jurisdiction of International Criminal Court on the basis of the Rome Statute for investigating military crime committed against Ukrainian citizens in Luhansk on June 2, 2014.
People’s deputies were outraged with speech of Chairman of the Party of Regions faction accusing him of “abetting terrorism” and demanded a reaction from the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Prime-Minister Arsenii Yatseniuk made a speech on energy security of Ukraine as well as financial and economic policy of the government.
A. Yatseniuk informed about the course of the relationship between Ukraine and Russia during the last months, and stressed that “Russia uses energy as a gas weapon”. “Ukraine clearly stated that under such conditions we are moving towards the Stockholm arbitration court, and on Friday a lawsuit was prepared according to which Ukraine demands that, firstly, Russia establishes a reasonable price, and, secondly, Ukraine will demand several compensations from Russian company “Gazprom”, he said.
The Chairman of the government stated that yesterday negotiations between “Naftogaz” and “Gazprom” began. He said that “we need to go through this path as a result of which an additional agreement should be signed, the draft of which Ukrainian “Naftogaz” prepared on Sunday.
The Prime-Minister claims “Ukraine insists on preserving the price of USD 268 for a thousand cubic metres”.
A. Yatseniuk also claimed that “under no conditions will Ukraine pay USD 500 for a thousand cubic metres. There will be no other discussion. This is not a market price, this is a political price. There is no such price in Europe. If Russia sees Ukraine as a milk-cow, it is deeply mistaken”.
“We are aimed at protection of our interests. If the agreement is not reached within the framework of the pre-arbitral settlement of disputes, we are applying to the Stockholm court. I want to clearly state that Ukrainian people will use any means and methods to protect legal rights of Ukrainian state. We do not ask anything from Russia, we demand to sign the agreement. We are ready to pay the market gas price but not the political price”, he stressed.
A. Yatseniuk informed about availability of gas in reserves. “There were in general 5 billion cubic metres of gas. 5 billion cubic metres of gas are only buffer gas which practically can not be brought up to the surface. As of today’s morning there are 12 billion cubic metres of gas in Ukrainian gasholders. We have accumulated resources. Obviously, these resources are not enough. For winter we will need additional 7 billion cubic metres of gas”.
The Prime-Minister informed about reforming “Naftogaz”. In his words, the government will create Public Joint Stock Company “Ukrainian gasholders”.
A. Yatseniuk also reported on the address of Ukraine to the European Union and United States of America with a suggestion to implement the project of joint operation and modernization of Ukrainian gas pipeline system
The Prime Minister has separately stressed the need to reform energy production in general. “Proceeding from the fact that for the past five years there was no increase of investment into equity production, the situation around it is quite complicated,” he noted.
Commenting on energy policy, Arsenii Yatseniuk noted that is should consist of two blocks: first – produce more, second – use less.
Chairman of the Government informed also about the prepared action plan, in case if Russia stops gas supply. “We speak without disguise – the issue of shutdown of Russian gas is still on the agenda. It is absolutely understandable that the Russian Federation will use every weapon, including gas one, in fight against Ukraine. We will use everything that is in our arsenal. If the agreement is signed, I will report the Parliament on it. If the agreement is not signed, we will litigate with Gazprom in Stockholm,” emphasized A.Yatseniuk.
Finishing his speech, A.Yatseniuk said that he will answer all questions of the people’s deputies on Friday during the Government Question Hour.
Further on, the people’s deputies took decisions regarding the issues that were discussed.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted as a basis and in entirety the draft law on amendments to article 13 of the Law of Ukraine “On rehabilitation and recreation of children” (re establishing age of children staying in children rehabilitation and recreation establishments with their parents) (Reg. No. 3375).
The following bills were adopted as a basis: on amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Infringements re regulation of the issue on responsibility for domestic violence (Reg. No. 1181); on amendments to the Law “On Medicines” re improving the procedure of providing the population with medicines for treating socially dangerous or serious diseases (Reg. No. 3818); on amendments to article 13 of the Law “On social and legal protection of military men and their families” re providing privileges for receiving education for persons whose parents are military men (Reg. No. 2246); on amendments to the Law “On pensions for persons discharged from military service and certain other persons” re increasing minimum pension for members of military men families in case of losing a family provider (Reg. No. 4402); on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re increasing the level of social protection of war veterans (Reg. No. 4081); on open use of public funds (Reg. No. 2012a); and on amendments to article 26 of the Law “On Employment of Population” (Reg. No. 2883).
The bill on amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Administrative Services” (re eliminating opportunities for corruption in the course of providing administrative services), registered under No. 2149, was recommitted.
Following the results of voting, the bills registered under No. 4436, 3042, 2563, 3614, 3614-1, 1220-д and 2306а were rejected.
The people’s deputies included into the agenda the draft law on moratorium on recovery of property of the citizens of Ukraine that was provided to secure credit in foreign currency (Reg. No. 4953).
The draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re restoring efficient functioning of the capital of Ukraine – Kyiv (Reg. No. 4939) was reported the people’s deputy V.Karpiuntsov.
Following the results of voting, the bill did not receive enough votes (221 votes in favor).
Oleksandr Turchynov read out resignation statement of the people’s deputy of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in connection with his election to the post of the President of Ukraine.
The Verkhovna Rada has terminated powers of the people’s deputy Petro Poroshenko by 276 votes.
The draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine (re activity of state employment service), registered under No. 4808, was reported by the Minister of Social Policy Liudmyla Denisova.
The bill was adopted as a basis by 232 votes.
The people’s deputies considered in the first reading the bill on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine (re protection of area conservation), registered under No. 3400.
Following the results of voting, the decision was not adopted (134 votes in favor).
The Chairman adjourned morning session.
The people’s deputies continued consideration of the bills in the first reading during the evening session.
The bill on amendments to article 120 of the Civil Protection Code of Ukraine (re benefits from payment for utility services), registered under No. 3452, was reported by the chairman of the subcommittee of the Committee on Environmental Policy, Nature Resources Utilization and Elimination of the Consequences of Chornobyl Catastrophe Viktor Butkivskyi.
Following the results of voting, the bill lacked votes to be adopted as a basis (175 votes in favor).
The draft law on amendments to Code of Ukraine on Administrative Infringements re imposing responsibility in the sphere of licensing system (Reg. No. 2511a) was reported by the people’s deputy Oleh Zarubinskyi.
Parliamentarians upheld the bill in the first reading by 230 votes.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted as a basis and in entirety the draft laws on amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On the Status of the People’s Deputy of Ukraine” (re maintaining activity), registered under No. 4772, and on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine (re securing safe operation of agricultural equipment), registered under No. 2609a.
Following the results of voting (138 votes in favor), the bill on amendments to the Law “On export duty on live cattle and rawstock” (re differentiation of rates), registered under No. 3654, was rejected.
The draft Law on moratorium on recovery of property of the citizens of Ukraine that was provided to secure credit in foreign currency was reported by the people’s deputy M.Rudkovskyi.
The people’s deputies upheld the bill as a basis and in entirety by 241 votes.
Parliamentarians considered and discussed the draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine (re prohibition to participate in political activity on the territory of Ukraine for foreigners and stateless persons), registered under No. 4621.
The decision on this bill will be taken during the next plenary session.
The Chairman adjourned the evening plenary session.
Next plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada will be held on Wednesday, June 4.