ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 A PLENARY MEETING OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WAS HELD.
292 people’s deputies registered to participate in the plenary meeting.
Having opened the plenary meeting, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov informed about resignation of Leonid Klimov and Mykhailo Opanashchenko from the Party of Regions faction.
Oleksandr Turchynov informed about forming a deputies’ group in the Verkhovna Rada – “Economic development” – that consists of 33 people’s deputies. A.Kinakh was appointed as the Chairman of the group.
People’s deputies welcomed biathlon Olympic champion Olena Pidhrushna with applause.
MPs started considering agenda issues.
Iryna Farion informed about the draft resolution on commemorating participants of armed conflicts during peaceful protest actions. During these armed conflicts tens of people died and gave their lives for the Ukrainian nation and future of independent Ukraine.
I.Farion suggested commemorate the fallen heroes of Ukraine. The draft resolution stipulates instruct the next President of Ukraine to assign the title “Hero of Ukraine” posthumously to the fallen civil participants of armed conflicts during peaceful protest actions in Ukraine during November 2013 – February 2014.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted this draft resolution with 346 votes with an amendment “to address the next President of Ukraine with a proposal to assign the title “Hero of Ukraine” posthumously to the fallen civil participants of armed conflicts during peaceful protest actions in Ukraine during November 2013 – February 2014 in Ukraine.”
The people’s deputies commemorated all victims with a moment of silence.
MPs considered two draft resolutions on reaction to the fact of breaking an oath of a judge by judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine.
People’s deputy Yurii Derevianko reported about the first draft resolution. He claimed that judges of the Constitutional Court violated articles 3, 19, 147-153 of the Constitution of Ukraine. The people’s deputy suggested dismiss such judges of the Constitutional Court for breaking the oath: Holovin Anatolii Serhiiovych; Kolos Mykhailo Ivanovych; Markush Maria Andriivna; Ovcharenko Viacheslav Andriiovych; Paseniuk Oleksandr Mykhailovych.
The draft suggests that the President of Ukraine dismiss judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, appointed by the President of Ukraine, for breaking the oath: Baulin Yurii Vasyliovych; Vdovichenko Serhii Leonidovych.
Yu. Derevianko also stated that the draft stipulates suggest that the Council of Judges of Ukraine in three days should hold an extraordinary convention of judges of Ukraine where the issue on dismissing such judges of the Constitutional Court, appointed by the convention of judges of Ukraine, for breaking the oath: Bryntsev Vasyl Dmytrovych; Hultai Mykhailo Myroslavovych; Zaporozhets Mykhailo Petrovych; Serheichuk Oleh Anatoliiovych; Shaptala Natalia Konstiantynivna.
O.Liashko reported about the same draft resolution.
The people’s deputies expressed support of these draft resolutions and agreed with the necessity of reforming the Constitutional Court.
It was mentioned that these judges have initiated events taking place in Kyiv for the last days and resulting in deaths of people. They should be the first ones to face the consequences.
It was also stressed that the drafts contain a clear constitutional way of dismissing these judges; facts of breaking their oaths are evident and proven.
“We are to estimate the judges’ actions that broke the oath and pushed Ukraine to civil confrontation,” they stressed.
MPs introduced several proposals regarding the draft resolution of people’s deputy Yu. Derevianko.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the draft resolution in entirety with 307 votes.
Commissioner for controlling the activity of the Prosecutor’s General Office of Ukraine Oleh Makhnitskyi informed about measures taken by the Prosecutor General’s Office. He claimed that today suspicion in cases against top officials of the state and law enforcement bodies for organizing mass killing are being determined. According to him, the case involves approximately 50 persons. “Investigation has been initiated according to fact of intentional homicide of 74 Ukrainian citizens in Kyiv during mass protest actions on the grounds of a crime stipulated by article on intentional homicide under aggravating circumstances. An investigation group has been formed for the pre-trial investigation. Several investigation actions were carried out, an instruction to find witnesses and persons who committed these was given,” he claimed.
O.Makhnitskyi noted also that investigations on other criminal cases that were closed are now opened and being conducted.
Considering the statements that were voiced out, the Chairman entrusted the Tans-Border Service to provide the list of suspected in mass murders and facts of mass corruption, so that these citizens were ruled out of the possibility to leave the territory of Ukraine.
This decision, according to the Chairman, will be registered as a resolution.
The people’s deputies placed on the agenda and considered the draft law on amendments to appendix No. 3 to the Law of Ukraine “On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2014” (re expenses on holding elections of the President of Ukraine).
Parliament members voted for applying the ad hoc procedure without discussing the bill.
Chairman of the Budgetary Committee Yevhenii Hellier reported on the bill that suggests increase consumption expenditures of the Central Fund of the Central Election Commission for financing a new budgetary programme on “holding elections of the President of Ukraine” (code 6731040) by UAH 1 billion 965,5 million.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill by 352 votes in entirety.
People’s deputies suggested postpone for tomorrow consideration of the issue on Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, in view of the necessity to refine it.
Parliament members considered staff issues.
The Verkhovna Rada appointed Hvozd Viktor Ivanovych as Commissioner for control over the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.
The Verkhovna Rada dismissed Ihor Sorkin from the post of the Head of the National Bank of Ukraine, as based on his resignation statement.
The Parliament appointed Stepan Kubiv as a Head of the National Bank of Ukraine by 310 votes.
Commisioner for control over the activity of the Prosecutor’s General Office Oleh Makhnitskyi informed of the criminal case of Dmytro and Serhii Pavliuchenko.
The Verkhovna Rada dismissed Yakymenko Oleksandr from the post of the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine, having adopted the respective resolution.
Another resolution appointed Valentyn Nalyvaichenko to the post of the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine.
The Verkhovna Rada appointed Oleh Makhnitskyi to the post of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
The Parliament has adopted resolutions dismissing N.Yu. Korolevska from performing the duties of the Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine and L.M. Novokhatko from performing the duties of the Minister of Culture.
In connection with the fact of non-personal voting by the people’s deputy on the resolution on dismissing D.V. Tabachnyk from performing the duties of the Minister of Science and Education, this resolution was re-voted. The decision was adopted by 249 votes in favor.
The people’s deputies included into the agenda and considered the draft resolution on releasing political prisoners that stipulated entrusting the Prosecutor General’s Office to release political prisoners.
The resolution was adopted by 316 votes in favor.
Oleksandr Turchynov announced a break in the plenary meeting until February 25, 10 a.m.