Rights, freedom, democracy, human, defence of the Motherland, people, parliamentarism, development of the country, inclusiveness, equality, European integration and law. These words are engraved on the commemorative coin of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ‘Parliamentarism’, which was presented by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk together with the Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Andrii Pyshnyi.
The commemorative coin is dedicated to an important component of Ukraine's democratic system and the leading role of the Ukrainian Parliament in this process.
“This coin is full of symbolism: the most important values of independent Ukraine, silhouettes of modern Ukrainians – the people for whom we work, a stylised session hall, an information board and, of course, the Ukrainian ornament, the soul and genetic code of our nation,” said the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine, adding that these concepts are the most important for everyone who serves the people of Ukraine, are daily guidelines and the main vectors of development.
Ruslan Stefanchuk also spoke more about the process of creating the coin, noting that an important decision was made to move away from the soviet style and to make sure that the building of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine under the flag of Ukraine was featured on the coin: “We took a different path – we started talking about the essence, values, and people. That is why the coin primarily features silhouettes of people and the values that form the basis of parliamentarism.”
He expressed his gratitude to Andrii Pyshnyi, the Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, for his assistance in the issuance of this symbolic coin and to all those involved in its development.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine expressed hope that the next commemorative coin to be presented will be dedicated to the common Victory.
“Today's meeting is dedicated not only to the lawmaking process, but also to the process related to the symbols of the history of parliamentarism,” said Viacheslav Shtuchnyi, the Secretary General of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
He also noted that it is important that the ideas of Ukrainian parliamentary democracy are depicted on this coin. Viacheslav Shtuchnyi said that this was preceded by a long cooperation with the National Bank, artists, designers and historians: “We listened to everyone in order to engrave on the coin exactly what the Ukrainian Parliament represents.”
“It is within the walls of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine that the main processes for Ukraine take place, and it is here that the basic principle of democracy is implemented: the only source of power in Ukraine is the people. And this is what strategically distinguishes us from the countries that attack us. This is what creates our superpower. It is a difficult choice, but it is our choice that has shaped the Ukrainian state. The protests on granite, the Revolution of Dignity, and the selfless defence of their choice would not have been possible if Ukrainians did not believe in the power of democracy and the rule of law, which are implemented through parliamentarism,” said the NBU Governor Andrii Pyshnyi.
For reference. The obverse of the commemorative coin ‘Parliamentarism’ features stylised silhouettes of modern Ukrainians representing different social, age, and professional groups. This embodies the idea of the diversity of the Ukrainian people and emphasises that, according to the Constitution of Ukraine, the people are the bearer of sovereignty and the sole source of power in Ukraine.
Between the silhouettes are inscriptions: RIGHTS, FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY, HUMAN, DEFENCE OF THE OLD NATION, PEOPLE, PARLIAMENTARISM, DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY, INCLUSIVENESS, EQUALITY, EUROINTEGRATION and LAW, which reflect the fundamental principles of democracy.
Below is a picture of the information board, recognisable to all Ukrainians, used to display voting results in the session hall of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Its reverse features a stylised Ukrainian ornament in a circular pattern, with the logo of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the centre of the composition against a mirror background.
The coin was designed by Tetiana Baluta and sculpted by Volodymyr Atamanchuk.