PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WERE HELD ON TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2014.
At the beginning of the morning session, the people’s deputies paid a silent tribute to the deceased passengers of “Boeing-777” of Malaysian Airlines, headed from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, shot down by terrorists with Russian anti-aircraft missile system "Buk" in the East of the country on July 17, 2014. 298 people were on board, including 80 children.
On behalf of the Verkhovna Rada, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov expressed sincere condolences to the near and dear ones of the deceased.
Oleksandr Turchynov noted that “all the criminals involved in this terrible crime will not avoid fair punishment.” According to him, “today we need to pool efforts of not only all Ukrainians, but of the entire international community in fighting against international terrorism that is coordinated and financed by the Russian Federation.”
Oleksandr Turchynov informed that the respective resolutions were today referred by the people’s deputies. He expressed hope that the Verkhovna Rada will adopt them.
Representatives of deputy factions and groups took the floor with announcements, statements and proposals.
The people’s deputies went down to consideration of the agenda items.
The draft law on approval of the Decree of the President of Ukraine “On Partial Mobilization” (Reg. No. 4320a) was reported by the Secretary of the National Defence and Security Council Andrii Parubii. He noted that the results of analysis of the developments in the eastern Ukraine testify to the fact that Russia continues the policy of escalation of armed conflict in this region.
“At present, around 41 thousands of Russian military men are located near the northern, eastern and southern borders of Ukraine, including Crimea,” informed A.Parubii.
The Secretary of the National Defence and Security Council Andrii Parubii dwelled on the situation in the eastern Ukraine and responded to the questions of the people’s deputies.
In particular, parliamentarians drew attention “to an extremely complicated and at the same time strange situation: on the one hand, the President asks to vote for additional mobilization. On the other hand, there is an undefined state in the country. This is not a military state, we are having ATO. Meanwhile, this is the third mobilization already.”
“We are not sure about the number of the deceased and why the single vertical for governing all military actions has not yet been created. Since this is the best way to win the war. And we are having the war. That is why, prior to announcing additional mobilization we demand to hold the meeting of the Verkhovna Rada behind closed doors with participation of the President, the Defence Minister and the Internal Affairs Minister.
A.Parubii noted that the Verkhovna Rada has the authority to hold a meeting behind the closed doors with the law-enforcers. He expressed confidence that both “the President and the law-enforcers will in detail report on the course of developments in the East and in Donetsk and Luhansk.”
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill as a basis and in entirety by 232 votes.
The people’s deputies voted to withdraw the people’s deputy M.Levchenko from the session hall for anti-State claims.
The draft resolution on Statement of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine “On the tragic death of people as a result of a terrorist act over the territory of Ukraine” (Reg. No. 4326a) was included into the agenda and adopted in entirety.
The draft resolution on the Statement of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine “On counteraction to the spread of international terrorism, supported by the Russian Federation” was adopted as a basis and in entirety.
Oleksandr Turchynov drew attention to absence of the CPU faction and faction of the Party of Regions in the session hall. He has entrusted not to run payroll calculations for the present day for these people’s deputies.
The Presiding announced inclusion of several draft laws and resolutions into the agenda.
Representatives of factions suggested including several more bills into the agenda and excluding some other.
People’s deputies included the suggested bills into the agenda by 232 votes.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted as a basis the draft law on on counteraction and prevention of terrorism, and overcoming consequences of secessionist activity on the territory of Ukraine (deseparatization), registered under No. 4300a.
The draft law on amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine re the quantitative composition and termination of deputy factions (deputy groups), registered under No. 4307a., was adopted as a basis and in entirety. The law establishes that a deputy faction (deputy group) the composition of which is less than the minimum number of the people’s deputies of Ukraine, determined by part four of article 59 of the Rules of Procedure, shall be dissolved by the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada 15 days after the case.
The draft law on amendments to the Law “On the Single State Demographic Registrar and Documents Testifying Citizenship of Ukraine, Certify the Identity or a Special Status” re digital fingerprints was reported by the Chair of the Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and International Relations Valerii Patskan.
The people’s deputies scrutinized amendments to the bill. The decision on the bill will be taken later.
The First Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Taxation and Customs Policy Oksana Prodan reported on the draft law on amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine re specification peculiarities of tax liabilities of corporate income tax and VAT in case of applying tax compromise (Reg. No. 4930) in the second reading.
The people’s deputies suggested voting on some amendments to the bill in order to approve them.
Chairperson of the Committee on Taxation and Customs Policy V.Khomutynnik addressed the Presiding with a request to take the decision on the bill on Thursday, in view of lack of the necessary number of parliamentarians in the session hall.
The draft law on amendments to the Law “On the Main Principles of State Monitoring (control) of Economic Activity” re limitation of interference into the activity of economic agents (Reg. No. 0937) was reported by the Chairperson of the Committee on Entrepreneurship, Regulatory and Antimonopoly Policy Oleksandra Kuzhel.
The Presiding put the bill to signal voting. 196 parliamentarians voted in favor. The decision on this bill will be taken during the next plenary meetings.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted in entirety the draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re activity of the state employment service (Reg. No. 4808) and on amendments to article 28 of the Law “On Military Duty and Military Service” (Reg. No. 4844).
People's deputies considered the draft law on amendments to article 230 of the Tax Code of Ukraine (re control over turnover of alcohol and alcoholic beverages) under Reg. No. 2403.
Following the results of the voting, the bill did not receive enough votes for its adoption in the second reading (166 votes in favour) and was submitted for a repeated second reading (208 in favour).
Oleksandr Turchynov said he had a conversation with Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov who informed him that the National Guard and the Armed Forces of Ukraine entered a big city Sieverodonetsk, and were freeing the city from terrorists.
People's deputies greeted this news with applause.
The Chair announced people's deputy Ihor Tsyrkin entering the deputies' group "Economic Development" and the coalition "European Choice", and adjourned the morning meeting.
Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Koshulynskyi opened the evening meeting.
Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine of Ihor Shvaika reported on the draft law on state control in the field of safety and quality of food and feed and animal welfare (Reg. No. 4986). The government official claimed the bill aims at harmonizing Ukrainian legislation in the sphere of state control on audits of compliance with legislation of Ukraine on safety and quality of food and feed and animal welfare with EU Regulations No. 854/2004, No. 882/2004, No. 669/2009 and the Council Directive No. 97/78/EC.
People's deputy Oksana Prodan reported on the alternative bill under Reg. No. 4986-1. She claimed the bill determines the requirements to organization of the state control over quality of food and feed and animal welfare by representatives of a single controlling body – the competent body.
Chair of the Committee on Agrarian Policy and Land Relations Hryhorii Kaletnik informed about the Committee's decision to recommend that the Verkhovna Rada adopt as a basis the bill under Reg. No. 4986-1.
H.Kaletnik reported on the bill on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re food products under Reg. No. 4179а. He claims the bill aims at improving terminology for ensuring harmonization with the EU legislation, specifying provisions regarding types of violations and punitive measures, etc.
The Committee on Agrarian Policy and Land Relations made a decision to recommend that the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis and in entirety.
The Chair put all three drafts to the signal voting. None of the drafts received enough votes, thus, voting on these drafts will be held on Thursday.
Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine of Ihor Shvaika reported on another bill – on byproducts of animal origin that are not intended for human consumption (Reg. No. 4055a).
Chair of the Committee on Agrarian Policy and Land Relations Hryhorii Kaletnik informed that the author of an alternative bill No. 4055а-1 withdrew his draft.
The Committee recommends that the Verkhovna Rada adopt as a basis the bill under Reg. No. 4055а.
Following the results of the signal voting, the bill did not receive enough votes (198 in favour). The bill was discussed and will be voted for on Thursday.
People's deputies also considered and discussed the bill on amendments to article 4 of the Law "On Transfer of Objects of State and Communal Ownership" (re pre-school educational establishments) under Reg. No. 4075a.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the bill as a basis and in entirety.
MPs returned to the already considered bills.
The bill on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re food products under Reg. No. 4179а was adopted as a basis and in entirety.
The bills on state control in the field of safety and quality of food and feed and animal welfare (Reg. No. 4986-1), and on byproducts of animal origin that are not intended for human consumption (Reg. No. 4055а) were adopted as a basis.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the second reading and in entirety the draft laws on amendments to the Law "On the Single State Demographic Registrar and Documents Testifying Citizenship of Ukraine, Certify the Identity or a Special Status" re digital fingerprints (Reg. No. 4991), and on amendments to the Law "On Foundations of Government Oversight (Control) of Economic Activity" re limitation of interference into the activity of economic agents (Reg. No. 0937).
The Chair adjourned the evening meeting.
Next plenary meeting of the Verkhovna Rada will be held on Wednesday, July 23.