11 November 2015, 17:17
The Committee members have recommended that the Ukrainian Parliament adopt the draft law No. 2847 "On amendments to Article 9 of Law of Ukraine "On citizenship of Ukraine" (as to simplification of the order of assignation of Ukraine's citizenship to foreigners and stateless persons serving in Armed Forces of Ukraine) in second reading.
The members of the Committee recommended additional adaptation of the draft law No. 3029 "On amendments to Law of Ukraine "On Ukrainians abroad" (as to receipt of status by minors).
The Committee members also recommended that the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Legislative Support to Enforcement reject the draft law No. 2314a "On amendments to Penal Code of Ukraine" (as to improvement of qualification of crimes with features of national, racial or religious hatred).
Representatives of non-government organizations opposes the adoption of this draft law as the offered wording would create a legal gap in bringing people guilty of violence based on hatred to responsibility.
The relevant Committee was recommended adopt the draft law No. 2043a "On amendments to Administrative Offences Code of Ukraine" (as to toughening of state control over observance of right to access to public information, protection of personal data and citizens' appeals) as a basis.
The Committee members also heard information provided by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine about institutional protection of rights of national minorities in the course of decentralization and interregional cooperation.
Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations Hryhorii Nemyria reminded that the members of the Committee had several timed invited Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Culture of Ukraine Viacheslav Kyrylenko to its meetings and drew attention to the fact that the issue of institutional protection of rights of national minorities were discussed at the meetings with OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors.
"Despite all our efforts and recommendations of the international organizations, including the OSCE, Ukraine still does not have an institution able to address the problems of national minorities," Committee member Vasyl Brenzovych said.
The Committee members decided to inform the Ukrainian Government about the necessity for establishment of a standalone body that would coordinate activity in the field of protection of rights of national minorities and to invite Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Culture of Ukraine Viacheslav Kyrylenko to a Committee meeting for the sixth time.
The Committee members also backed the address of the people's deputy/head of the permanent delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Ariyev offering to elaborate and submit for Verkhovna Rada's consideration the draft law aimed at settlement of issue of missing persons in compliance with the PACE Resolution 2067 (2015).
The Committee also discussed an opportunity to hold an offsite meeting in Kramatorsk on December 3. The meeting is likely to touch the implementation of internally-displaced persons.
The Committee also approved the provision on Expert Council of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations.
Besides, the meeting participants also discussed parliamentary control over execution of ruling of the European Court of Human Rights, protection of rights of detained blogger Ruslan Kotsaba. It was decided to address the prosecutor general requesting to inform the Committee about the observance of rights and freedoms of Ruslan Kotsaba.