ON TUESDAY, 20 OCTOBER, 5TH SESSION PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SIXTH CONVOCATION WERE HELD
Oleksandr Lavrynovych, the Vice-Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine having opened the morning sitting, on the request of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and "Our Ukraine-Self Defense factions had announced the break for the consultations. Representatives of Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and "Our Ukraine-Self Defense factions suggested the scrutiny of the bills regarding the immunity nullifying first of all but the Chairman decaled that on the 6th of October the Verkhovna Rada resolved the scrutiny of the bills regarding social protection of the citizens first of all.
The People´s Deputies presented the propositions and announcements.
The People´s Deputies voted for the change of the agenda according to which the bills that are to be scrutinized first of all would be those regarding the immunity of certain high-ranking officials and People´s Deputies.
The Bill on Amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine (re the Guarantee of Immunity for certain Officials) was introduced by Oleksandr Lavrynovych. Representing the Bill №3251 O. Lavrynovych explained is norms according to which all the high-ranking officials having obligations before the People of Ukraine in the name of the state should be excused only from the being arrested. He specified that the people might be arrested under the condition when their guilt is proved and there is accusative judgment, otherwise in case of the necessity that is observed from the course of the investigation. Due to these facts the People´s Deputy, the Judge of Ukraine or the President of Ukraine might be arrested until the sentence is passed after the Verkhovna Rada agreement.
The Bill (Reg.№3251) envisages exclusion from the article 80 the first part according to which the people's Deputies are provided. The article 105 of the Constitution of Ukraine is also expected to be excluded according to which the right on immunity possesses the President of Ukraine. The same concerns the part two and three that impalement the responsibility for the encroachment upon the President´s dignity. Also it is envisaged that the President of Ukraine is not to be detained or arrested before the Verkhovna Rada agreement until the court judgment concerning him comes into force.
Consequently the immunity rates are implemented at the same level as for the President of Ukraine and for the People´s Deputy of Ukraine. Suggested part three of the article 8 and part two of the article 105 represents the norm of the part three of the article 126 of the Constitution of Ukraine that introduce the rates of the judgment immunity.
The Bill of the Law on Amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine (re the Restriction of the Deputies´ Immunity) was presented by Viacheslav Kyrylenko. He reminded that the Bill was introduced for the Parliament in the end of the year 2007 and was scrutinized at the beginning of the year 2008. The Bill received positive resolution of the constitutional Court of Ukraine.
V. Kyrylenko has pointed out the attention on the fact that the bill suggested by O. Lavrynovych had not undergone any Constitutional Court Procedure.
S. Mishchenko, the Chairman of the committee on Legal Policy informed on the decisions regarding both bills. Regarding the Bill №1375 S. Mishchenko declared that for the adoption of the bill as a basis the Deputies need now 226 votes. During the next session in February, for the adoption of the mentioned bill 300 votes would be required, consequently the Bill would not come into force immediately.
S. Mishchenko declared that the Committee recommends that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine should direct the Bill, introduced by O. Lavrynovych for the Constitutional Court resolution.
AS a result of the voting the Bill (Reg.№3251) is directed to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and the Bill (Reg.№1375) is withdrawn from the voting.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted the Law "On Moratorium on the Price and Tariff Increase on the Medicines and Medical Use Production" by 242 votes.
The People´s Deputies have scrutinized amendments to several Laws of Ukraine
The Chair declared the morning sitting adjourned
At the beginning of the evening sitting, O. Lavrynovych introduced the Bill of the Resolution "On Next Elections of the Deputies of Local, Village, Town Councils and City Mayors in the Year 2010".
Olha Bodnar, the First Vice-Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on State Building and Local Self-Government reported on the Committees decision to recommend the Parliament adoption of the Resolution Bill.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has passed the Resolution "On Next Elections of the Deputies of Local, Village, Town Councils and City Mayors in the Year 2010"according to which the next elections would be held on 30 May 2010. The Resolution force is spread on the Deputies of Local, Village, Town Councils and City Mayors elected during the pre-termed elections after 26 March 2006.
Chairman informed that according to the agenda the People´s Deputies are supposed to hear the Information of the Prosecution General of Ukraine and Ministry on Internal Affairs of Ukraine regarding the activity of law enforcing bodies on perpetration of crime against sexual freedom and sexual inviolability of minors.
Mykola Katerynchuk suggested the hearing of the issue on close regime but the People´s Deputies rejected the suggestion.
Oleksandr Medvedko, General Prosecutor of Ukraine reminded that the effective Law envisages the restriction of publicity regarding the court scrutiny of the sexual crimes and expressed regret regarding the opposite running of the case.
P. Medvedko informed on the investigation proceeding held by the Ministry on Internal Affairs in this case.
Regarding the participation of the People´s Deputies in this case, the General Prosecutor declared that the scrutiny was being held.
Prosecutor General informed that the Letter, regarding the additional official revision in order to adopt adequate measures, was directed.
General Prosecutor informed that giving answers to the People´s Deputies questions that such cases were to be investigate for two months term.
O. Medvedko appealed to the People´s Deputies with the request not to investigate the case by themselves and stop speculations round the case.
The People´s Deputies appealed to the Prosecutor General with the request to give the legal evaluation of the Ministry on Internal Affairs actions.
On measures taken by the Ministry on Internal Affairs regarding the case were presented by Yuriy Lutsenko, the Minster on Internal Affairs of Ukraine. He rejected expressions that the case had not been scrutinized for 7 months and informed of the investigation course, which according to him is being held objectively.
Nina Karpachova, the Ombudsperson in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine informed on the statistics of the crimes committed against children.
Ombudsperson in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine suggested the setting up a Temporary Inquiry Panel of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to investigate the Incrimination in Child Molestation
As a result of the information scrutiny the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed the Resolution "On setting up a Temporary Inquiry Panel of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to investigate the Incrimination in Child Molestation" by 418 votes. Kateryna Smoilyk was appointed on the office of the Committee Chairperson.
O. Lavrynovych declared the plenary meeting adjourned.
Next plenary meeting would be held on 21 October.