16 January 2014, 14:00
PLENARY MEETING ON JANUARY 16, 2014
The morning meeting started at 11:08 a.m.
261 people’s deputies registered to participate in the plenary meeting.
First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ihor Kalyetnik opened the meeting from the seat in the session hall.
He claimed that today the main issue of the country’s life is adoption of the budget for the present year. “According to the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, adopted by all factions, the constitutional majority on January 16, we should consider and adopt the country’s main financial document. According to chapter four of article 20 of the Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, this issue is included to the agenda without voting,” the speaker claimed.
I. Kalyetnik stressed that the opposition deputies made it impossible to consider the draft budget for 2014. According to him, they prevent consideration of the issue, block the tribune, hinder activities of the chairman of the plenary meeting, and also prevent the people’s deputies from voting. “It is impossible to report about the budget and discuss it under such conditions. So, we will adopt the budget for 2014 without discussion,” the chairman of the meeting stressed.
The chairman of the meeting gave the floor to the Chairman of the Committee on Budget Yevhenii Hellier who read the Committee’s decision adopted yesterday at the meeting, and made some suggestions.
Ye. Hellier suggested take into consideration some additional proposals to the bill that related to change of versions of several articles. He also informed that the Committee adopted the decision to recommend that the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis and in entirety.
The bill was adopted as a basis and in entirety by 249 votes.
The draft law on amendments to the Law “On the Judicial System and Status of Judges” and procedural laws re additional protective measures of citizens’ safety” (Reg. No. 3879) was included to the agenda.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted bill as a basis and in entirety by 239 votes.
The chairman of the meeting suggested that the people’s deputies include several more bills to the agenda.
The parliamentarians did not include to the agenda the draft law on amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine (re criminal proceedings in absentia) under Reg. No. 3587.
The Chairman of the meeting said that the opposition factions deputies obstruct voting via electronic system and thus, he suggested to return to the voting. “If this suggestion is not adopted, then we will make decision regarding article 37 of the Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada and the vote will be held by raising hands,” claimed I. Kalyetnik.
The bill did not get enough votes for including it to the agenda.
The
Chairman of the meeting said “as we do not have an opportunity to consider the
abovementioned bills in the ordinary course, we will adopt decisions regarding
these bills without consideration.”
I.Kalyetnik noted that all of the bills that will be now placed on the agenda were considered by the committees of the Verkhovna Rada. He asked the Chairman of the Counting Commission to get ready for counting the votes of the people’s deputies during voting by raising hands.
Chairman of the Counting Commission Volodymyr Oliinyk informed that the Counting Chamber is ready to work.
The Presiding at the meeting announced inclusion of the bill registered under No. 3879 into the agenda.
The bill was placed on the agenda by 235 votes and adopted as a basis and in entirety by the equal number of votes without consideration.
The following bills were placed on the agenda and adopted in entirety under the same procedure: on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine (re responsibility for commitment of administrative offences during football matches), registered under No. 3837; on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re liability for administrative offences of the sphere of road safety, recorded automatically (Reg. No. 3855); on amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Reg. No. 3883); on amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine (re criminal proceedings in absentia) (Reg. No. 3587); on amendments to article 297 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (re responsibility for desecration or destruction of monuments erected in commemoration of those who fought against fascists during the Great Patriotic War – the Soviet military men-liberators, participants of the partisan movement, undergrounders, victims of fascist persecutions and peacekeepers) (Reg. No. 2178а); on amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine re responsibility for denial and excuse of fascist crimes (Reg. No. 2179а); on amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On free legal assistance” (re postponement of coming into force the provisions of clause 6 of chapter VI “Final and Transitional Provisions”) (Reg. No. 3792); and on amendments to article 197 of the Tax Code of Ukraine re exemption of operations on import of natural gas to the customs territory of Ukraine from VAT (Reg. No. 3853-1).
The Presiding announced a 30 minute break.
After the break, the plenary meeting was lead by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak.
He put to vote the draft resolution on establishment of the Temporary Inquiry Commission of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on investigation of wrongful acts on the part of law-enforcers and separate officials and encroachment on the rights and freedoms, as well as life and health of citizens in the course of the events connected with mass actions of socio-political protest that took place in Ukraine on November 21, 2013 (Reg. No. 3832) in order to adopt it as a basis and in entirety with consideration of specifications.
The draft resolution was adopted by 192 votes.
The break was announced.
After the break, the bill on amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On eliminating negative consequences, preventing prosecution and punishing people in connection with events taking place during peaceful assemblies” was placed on the agenda. It was adopted as a basis and in entirety by 229 votes.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak adjourned the third session.
Anthem of Ukraine was played in the session hall.
Under article 83 of the Constitution of Ukraine, the fourth session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the seventh convocation will begin on Tuesday, February 4, 2014.