A PLENARY MEETING OF THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WAS HELD ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014.
360 people’s deputies registered to participate in the plenary meeting.
Having opened the morning meeting, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Rybak informed that he signed the Resolution “On condemnation of violence in Ukraine which led to human losses” adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on February 20.
People’s deputies commemorated victims of mass confrontations in Kyiv on February 20 with a moment of silence.
Volodymyr Rybak said that today the Verkhovna Rada needs to adopt several laws, first of all, the law on returning to the Constitution of 2004 and the law on amnesty.
The Chairman gave the floor to the representatives of the factions.
Leaders of factions “Batkivshchyna,” “UDAR,” and “Svoboda” A.Yatseniuk, V.Klychko and O.Tiahnybok condemned the government’s actions against yesterday’s mass protests in the centre of Kyiv that led victims. They called to immediately adopt the law on returning to the Constitution of 2004, suggested to adopt the law not on amnesty of participants of the protests, but the law on full rehabilitation and exemption of all protesters from criminal responsibility. Representatives of the opposition factions also suggested adopt other laws necessary for maintaining order in the country, and the law on bringing those who gave orders to shoot weaponless citizens to the criminal responsibility.
Leader of “Batkivshchyna” faction A.Yatseniuk suggested announce a three-day national mourning.
Leader of the CMU faction Petro Symonenko suggested adopt all laws only after signing the political agreement.
People’s deputies reacted to this proposal indignantly.
Representative from the Party of Regions Yu.Miroshnychenko said that people’s deputies are obliged to adopt all necessary decisions here and now. He also informed that the President and opposition leaders have already elaborated all necessary decisions that will be adopted in next couple of hours.
Representative of the non-affiliated deputies I.Yeremeiev called to end all couloirs negotiations and further negotiate in the session hall, as well as adopt decisions, particularly, regarding the Constitution of 2004.
The Chairman announced a break.
The opposition factions expressed disapproval of such announcement and suggested continuing the meeting.
Volodymyr Rybak calmed them down that the meeting continued.
People’s deputies continued their speeches from the tribune. Non-affiliated deputy V.Lytvyn suggested tha the representatives of the negotiation process inform the MPs about the course of negotiations and called his colleagues to work.
Leader of “Batkivshchyna” faction A.Yatseniuk informed that there are special divisions of internal military forces armed with automatic weapons in the Parliament. He addressed the Chairman with a demand to immediately ensure order in the Verkhovna Rada.
Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Koshulynskyi informed that now it is being found out who let these special divisions into the Parliament.
R.Koshulynskyi suggested include the draft resolution on dismissing First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada I.Kalietnyk, author of which is V.Tymoshenko, into the agenda.
V.Tymoshenko himself suggested considering personnel affairs after adoption of the law on returning to the Constitution of 2004.
People’s deputy Yu.Miroshnychenko claimed that there is a draft on overcoming crisis. According to him, factions should consider this proposal and make decisions.
People’s deputy S.Soboliev stressed that the Parliament has to assume all responsibility for what is happening in the country now.
Leader of “Batkivshchyna” faction A.Yatseniuk suggested prepare a bill on returning to Constitution of 2004 in the session hall during one hour.
At 4:30 p.m. the plenary meeting continued.
Volodymyr Rybak informed about signing the agreement on regulating the crisis in Ukraine and gave the floor to leaders of the opposition factions.
Leader of “Svoboda” faction addressed everyone not yield to provocations in connection with withdrawal of militia and military men of internal troops from the Verkhovna Rada. He suggested putting the bill on restoring particular provisions of the Constitution of 2004 to the vote without discussion.
Leader of “UDAR” faction Vitalii Klychko claimed that the most important now is to stop blood shed, release the detained, stop the breakup of the country, and vote for cancelling “dictatorial” powers of President V.Yanukovych.
Leader of “Batkivshchyna” faction A.Yatseniuk suggested immediately introduce a coordinated law on returning to the Constitution of 2004 for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada, and adopt the law on releasing of those detained during mass actions.
Volodymyr Rybak suggested include the bill on restoring provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine of 2004 into the agenda.
People’s deputies adopted it with 361 votes.
The Verkhovna Rada also voted for applying the ad hoc procedure during consideration of this bill.
Leader of “Batkivshchyna” faction A.Yatseniuk said that “the Verkhovna Rada is going to adopt a fateful decision on restoring the constitutional law and order in the country, a fateful decision on cancelling dictatorial powers of President Yanukovych, a decision that gives authority to the Ukrainian Parliament that was elected by the people of Ukraine. After adopting this decision, the Verkhovna Rada will receive authority to appoint the government, to influence law-enforcement bodies, judicial and other braches of power. The Verkhovna Rada will stop being a subdivision of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine, it will be able to implement those things the Maidan and the Ukrainian people hope for.”
He reminded
that in 2010 the current President of Ukraine was elected by the Constitution
of 2004. “However, as a result of the constitutional conspiracy, the
Constitutional Court unjustifiably and illegally cancelled particular provisions
of the Constitution of Ukraine. No legislative acts that would restore
Constitution of 1996 were adopted. There were no legitimate decisions that
would give a possibility to publish Constitution of 1996 and use those powers
that the current President has been using for the last three years,” he claimed.
According to A.Yatseniuk, this bill restores the 2004 version of the Constitution of Ukraine. “This legislative act stipulates that the Verkhovna Rada can establish coalition of deputy factions that shall be formed both by parties and separate people’s deputies, as predetermined by the decision of the Constitutional Court in 2010. Under this law, the Verkhovna Rada shall exercise its authorities until October 2017, and more than 80 legislative acts that were illegally adopted in 2010-2011 and vested the President with extra powers shall be repealed within five days.”
“This is the first step on the way to renewing justice in our country… and the key role here belongs to the Ukrainian Parliament,” he stressed.
V.Rybak put this bill to vote, following the ad hoc procedure without the decision of the specialized committee.
People’s deputies upheld the decision by 386 votes.
Parliamentarians sang the National Anthem of Ukraine.
The draft law on preventing prosecution and punishment of people in connection with events taking place during peaceful assemblies, and on recognizing some Laws of Ukraine as invalid (Reg. No. 4073-1) into the session’s agenda by 373 votes.
People’s deputies upheld application of the ad hoc procedure in the course of consideration of this bill by 366 votes. The bill was reported by the people’s deputy Yurii Derevianko.
Yu.Derevianko stressed importance of this law. According to him, it is the second step in the direction to peace, calm and harmony in the state. “A great number of people wait for this law,” he noted, and called on the people’s deputies to uphold the law by the constitutional majority of votes.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill in entirety by 372 votes.
Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Koshulynskyi announced that the people’s deputies S.Buriak, T.Vasadze, K.Vashchuk, M.Dzhyha, O.Zarubinskyi, H.Kaletnyk, O.Kulinich, I.Kurovskyi, V.Makeienko, Ya.Moskalenko, A.Pryhodskyi, M.Soroka, V.Khomutynnik, O.Hereha and S.Berezkin leave the faction of the Party of Regions.
R.Koshulynskyi congratulated the people’s deputies on the victory of the Ukrainian Women’s Biathlon team, who won the gold medal during Olympic Games in Sochi.
People’s deputies suggested include into the agenda and consider several bills.
People’s deputies upheld the proposal of the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak to announce February 22-23 the days of national mourning in Ukraine.
A.Yatseniuk proposed to place on the agenda the draft resolution on dismissal of Yu.V. Zakharchenko from performing duties of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine for systemic and serious violations of the Constitution of Ukraine.
The draft resolution was included into the agenda by 334 votes.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the resolution by 332 votes.
Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine R.Koshulynskyi announced that the people’s deputies A.Derkach, V.Zubyk, V.Prodius, Ye.Sihal, H.Smitiukh and A.Yatsenko leave the faction of the Party of Regions.
Batkivshchyna faction leader Arsenii Yatseniuk informed that his faction demands on inclusion of the draft law of release of Yu.Tymoshenko into the agenda.
V.Rybak informed that five factions suggest include the draft resolution on providing state aid to the participants of mass public protest actions, family members of the deceased and injured ones (Reg. No. 4164).
The draft resolution was included into the agenda by 369 votes and adopted in entirety by 371 votes.
Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine R.Koshulynskyi announced that the people’s deputies I.Sharova, V.Khmelnytskyi, M.Bahraiev and M.Onyshchenko leave the faction of the Party of Regions.
The presiding brought in for consideration the draft law on amendments to the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes of Ukraine re implementation to the national legislation provisions of article 19 of the UN Convention against Corruption (Reg. No. 2023).
The bill was reported y the people’s deputy O.Turchynov. He noted that the document substitutes the constituent element of offence, which is commitment of respective actions “for mercenary motives or other personal interests or interests of third parties” with “the aim of receiving improper advantage” in article 364 of the Criminal Code. The bill excludes part three of article 364, as well as articles 365-1, 423 and 424 from the Criminal Code. Under the document, respective amendments are to be made to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill in entirety by 310 votes.
The presiding adjourned plenary meeting.
Next plenary meeting of the fourth session will be held on February 22.