Mykola Tomenko: Involvement of Immediate Relatives in the Public Authority System will be restricted since 1 January 2010
Mykola Tomenko, the Voce-Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine reminded that from 1 January 2010 the Law "On Basic Principles of Corruption Fighting and Counteraction" cones into force. The Law in particular contains a norm regarding the restriction of involvement of immediate relatives in the public authority system.
As it is known, the Law was adopted on 11 June 2009 by 230 votes. The Law was not upheld by Party of Regions Faction and considerable part of "Our Ukraine-People´s Self-Defence" faction.
M. Tomenko informed that according to the law immediate relatives are spouses, children, parents, own brothers and sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, adopters and adopted and other persons under the condition of their constant living together with the subject defined by the Law and conduction of common economic activity.
The Vice-Chairman explained that this norm is valid regarding certain dignitaries:
- President of Ukraine, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and his Vices, Prime-Minister of Ukraine and other members of the Cabinet of Ministers, head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Head of the National Bank of Ukraine, Chairman of the Court of Auditors, Ombudsman in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Autonomous Republic of Crime, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea;
- state officials;
- local-self-government officials;
- military ranks of Armed Forces of Ukraine;
- judges of the Constitutional Courts of Ukraine, professional judges, people´s assessors and jurymen;
- officers of internal affairs bodies, taxes officials, stet criminal-executive service, State Special Connection and Information Protection Service of Ukraine;
- prosecution bodies, diplomatic and custom service officials;
According to the implemented by the Law norms, if the article 6 principles are violated, the measures should be taken in fifteen days term in order to eliminated these violations, if in the mentioned term violations are not eliminated relative people re are to be transferred into the another office that does not presuppose direct subjection. In case person these demands are failed to be executed, mentioned in the article persons and their relatives are supposed to be dismissed.
M. Tomenko emphasised that the Law comes into force in 50 days and it would be correct to inform all the officials beforehand, starting from President and President´s Secretariat officials, "that tend to involve their relatives into the country management."
The Vice-Chairman stressed the importance of the Law "On Basic Principles of Corruption Fighting and Counteraction" and is convinced that it would reduce lobbyism and corruption in power bodies.