Plenary meeting on January 15, 2015

THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE CONTINUED ITS PLENARY WORK ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015.

Having opened morning plenary session, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman expressed condolences in connection with the tragedy in Volnovakha. “Absolutely innocent people died by the hand of aggressor, occupant and terrorists supported by the aggressor. These are not the first victims in our country – unfortunately today we have 12 dead and 17 injured civilians,” he noted. 

The people’s deputies held a moment of silence in tribute to the memory of the deceased civilians in the town of Volnovakha.  

Further on, Volodymyr Groysman informed that today during afternoon, the European Parliament will hold debates on Ukraine. He noted that yesterday the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko addressed the European Union asking to recognize DNR and LNR terrorist organizations.

According to the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian Parliament has to uphold the address of the Head of State and “establish also its position – address to the European colleagues, so that we could confirm our aspiration for peace in Ukraine and so that our European partners upheld Ukraine in our fight against the occupant, terrorists and Russian diversionists since each day results in loses of civilians and children.

Volodymyr Groysman entrusted the Committee on European Integration to immediately convene and elaborate the draft address of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the European MPs “concerning supporting Ukraine and pressing aggressor” in order to vote for it in the session hall today and refer it to the European Parliament.

Without announcing the break, the Presiding granted the floor to the representatives of factions of “Petro Poroshenko Bloc” and the “People’s Front” who wanted to make statements.

Having reminded about the tragedy that took place yesterday near the town of Volnovakha, representative of the faction of “Petro Poroshenko Bloc” Dmytro Lubinets suggested holding a Peace March to support Ukraine on Sunday. 

During his speech, representative of the faction “People’s Front” Andrii Teteruk, called on recognizing “LNR” and “DNR” terrorist organizations. He called on the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko to announce the 15^th of January the day of mourning for the deceased in Volnovakha. 

The Presiding announced establishment of the Inter-faction deputy union “Majoritarians of Ukraine”. The people’s deputy Anton Yatsenko was elected chair of the union.

The people’s deputies took the floor with announcements, statements and proposals.

The people’s deputies went down to consideration of agenda items. They considered several draft resolutions on early termination of powers of several people’s deputies in line with their applications.

The Verkhovna Rada terminated early the powers of the people’s deputies Oleksandr Turchynov, Vitalii Kovalchuk and Rostyslav Pavlenko.

Further on, parliamentarians considered several bills in the first reading.

The draft law on amendments to article 188-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (re preventing natural gas theft), registered under No. 1544, was reported by the Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Volodymyr Demchyshyn.

Co-reporting, Chairperson of the Committee on Legislative Support of Law-Enforcement Andrii Kozhemiakin noted that the Committee upholds the initiative of the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry and recommends the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis. 

Chairperson of the Committee on Corruption Prevention and Counteraction Yehor Soboliev deems that the bill should be rejected and the Government should suggest a separate article to the Criminal Code that would stipulate severe penalty for the wholesale theft of natural gas. 

Following the results of voting, the bill was recommitted (235 votes in favor).

The draft law on amendments to article 255 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Infringements (re safety on sea and river transport), registered under No. 1549, was presented by the First Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Volodymyr Shulmeister.

The specializing Committee on Legislative Support of Law-Enforcement recommended the Parliament adopt the bill as a basis.

People's deputies expressed remarks to the bill and following the results of the discussion, sent back the bill for recommitment (Reg. No. 240).

Deputy Minister of Justice reported on the draft law on amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine re strengthening responsibility for separate military crimes (Reg. No. 1552). The bill suggests strengthening criminal responsibility of military men for committing separate military crimes under the conditions of special period.

A.Kozhemiakin said the Committee on Legislative Support of Law Enforcement suggests adopting the bill only as a basis.

MPs adopted the bill as a basis with 238 votes.

People's deputy Yurii-Bohdan Shukhevych informed about the draft law on amendments to the Law “On Mandatory State Social Insurance” re refining pension provision (Reg. No. 1086). He suggested prolonging by January 1, 2022, the deadline for submitting salary statement (at present – January 1, 2016) for any 60 calendar months of qualifying period in succession prior to July 1, 2000.      

Chairperson of the subcommittee of the Committee on Social Policy, Employment and Pension Provision claimed the Committee recommends that the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis.

MPs suggested adopting the bill in entirety, considering other legislative initiatives in the sphere of pension provision on this week, and adopting respective decisions.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Resolution “On celebrating the 200th birth anniversary of Mykhailo Verbytskyi”. Under the Resolution, celebrations of the 200th birth anniversary of Mykhailo Verbytskyi should be held on March 4, 2015.

MPs sang the Ukrainian anthem "Shche ne vmerla Ukraina" ("Ukraine Has Not Yet Died"), the music of which was written by Mykhailo Verbytskyi.

Chairperson of the Committee on European Integration Iryna Herashchenko informed about the draft resolution on the Address to the European Parliament, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, national parliaments of EU member-states, USA, Canada, Japan, and Australia on mass shootings of people near Volnovakha in Ukraine.

The Verkhovna Rada adopted the draft resolution in entirety.

Volodymyr Groysman adjourned the plenary meeting.

Next plenary meeting of the first session will be held on Thursday, January 15.