11 January 2008, 09:30
The Bill (Reg. No. 1317) creates a legal basis for the Organisation and Operations of Ukraine's National Guard, its general structure, functions and authorities. The Bill regulates in detail the principal Tasks, Rights and Duties of today´s National Guard, the matters of its social protection, and its use of manual power, specialised tools, firearms and special equipment, as laid down in separate legal provisions.
The Explanatory Note states that a large percentage of the duties suggested in the Bill are already carried out by the Internal Forces, on which the creation of Ukraine's National Guard is based. At the same time, the Bill envisages that The National Guard will additionally be vested with the following tasks:
Involvement in a Martial Law State and/or Emergency Legal Status actions, or actions aimed at halting operation of Illegal Military or Armed Units;
Extradition (Internal Forces fulfil this task, however it is not defined in Law);
Steps to suppress Mass Riots;
Involvement, in line with the Law, in actions to suppress Terrorist Activities.
The Bill also proposes to extend the list of tasks connected with the provision of Public Safety and Public Order, including cases of Emergency and Environmental Disasters, and Overcoming the Aftermath of Emergencies.
Expenditure connected with the renaming of the Military Formation, and additional tasks being imposed on the National Guard of Ukraine (as compared to those of Internal forces) , shall be made without the need for the allocation of additional financial resources.
The passing of this Bill will adjust the legal status of Ukraine's National Guard as a Military Formation with the relevant organisational structure and staff, and define the status of the Central Administration of The National Guard of Ukraine as a specially authorised State Body for Military administration of Ukraine's National Guard, to positively assist in the fulfilment of its tasks, improve the recruitment system and promote its on-duty alertness.