15 March 2014, 15:07
PLENARY MEETING OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE WAS HELD ON SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014.
Having opened the morning meeting, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov informed that on March 14, 2014 the Central Election Commission registered Merikov Vadym Ivanovych, elected on October 28, 2012 in a multi-mandate nationwide district, included to electoral list of political party All-Ukrainian Union “Batkivshchyna”, as a people’s deputy.
V.Merikov took an oath to the Verkhovna Rada.
The Chairman announced about V.Merikov entering the deputies’ faction “Batkivshchyna”.
Factions of the Party of Regions and the Communist Party of Ukraine demanded to announce a break or to be given the floor for a statement.
At the suggestion of people’s deputy Nestor Shufrych, MPs commemorated the deceased in Kharkiv during the yesterday’s conflict with a minute of silence.
People’s deputy Nestor Shufrych made a statement. He claimed “unfortunately, we see that almost every day people die in Ukraine – a day before yesterday in Donetsk, yesterday in Kharkiv. Regardless of political views, unfortunately, people keep dying. No matter what people say, the country has government which should ensure public order and security of our citizens. We are making everything possible today aiming to ensure order and security. However, it is very difficult to do when provocateurs of radical right-wing groups who provoke confrontations are sent to the regions with certain attitudes.”
Some people’s deputies expressed outrage with N.Shufrych’s speech. They gathered near the tribune and prevented him from speaking.
The Chairman announced a break for 15 minutes.
After the break, people’s deputy N.Shufrych’s continued his speech.
N.Shufrych informed that factions demand an objective investigation of death cases in Donetsk, Kharkiv, and of cases of the injured in other regions of the country. Factions also invited the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor General to the plenary meeting for providing information.
Oleksandr Turchynov noted that the executive authorities and law-enforcement agencies received a strict order from the Verkhovna Rada, from the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, and the acting President: no loosening to anyone who violates the Law, walks with weapons and uses them, regardless of where this takes place. “The Law is the same for everybody. Those who are trying to destabilize the situation, seize buildings, act with violations of the Constitution and the laws, work for those who are annexing Ukraine’s territory now, they work for enemies of Ukrainian people,” he claimed and addressed his colleagues from the opposition asking to objectively estimate the situation.
The Chairman gave the floor to representatives of deputies’ factions and groups.
Speakers claimed that a decision on dissolving illegitimate Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is urgent as of now. According to them, it is necessary to intensify the vertical system of executive government.
Representatives of factions drew attention to the fact that the state, in the form of the NSCD and the government, does not conduct counter-propaganda against the referendum.
People’s deputies stressed that today “they bear responsibility to the Ukrainian nation, to the Ukrainian society for ensuring territorial integrity of our country, for ensuring national sovereignty.”
Representatives of the coalition factions upheld the decision on dissolving the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. They also noted that representatives from faction of the Party of Regions and the CMU “are adopting an anti-constitutional decision”. “Where is your decision on dissolving Crimean organization of the Party of Regions and excluding its members from the Party of Regions? If you do not adopt this decision in one day, it means that the Party of Regions is responsible for anti-constitutional developments in Crimea,” they stressed.
MPs called everyone “to express public and political courage, and today to say in unison “No to separatism.” Ukraine was, is and will be integral inviolable sovereign Ukraine!”
Representative from the Party of Regions Hanna Herman informed that the faction adopted the decision according to which every deputy has to make his own decision on dissolving the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
Oleksandr Turchynov reminded about the adopted resolution on the situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. “We addressed the Parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea with a demand to cancel its illegitimate decision. The resolution stipulated that in case of refusal, the Verkhovna Rada would adopt a decision on suspension of the Parliament and its dissolution. The time Verkhovna Rada had given to separatists elapsed,” he claimed and informed that no decisions on returning to the constitutional dimension were adopted.
Oleksandr Turchynov reminded that yesterday the Constitutional Court adopted the decision
“First. Recognize the Resolution of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea on holding national Crimean referendum of March 6, 2014 as non-corresponding to the Constitution of Ukraine and non-constitutional.
Second. The Resolution of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea on holding national Crimean referendum is recognized non-constitutional and becomes invalid on the day of adoption of this decision by the Constitutional Court.
Third. Cease activity of the commission of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea on holding the national Crimean referendum, as well as territorial and district commissions set up for holding of this referendum.
Fourth. The Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea should stop funding measures on holding the referendum and destroy ballots and agitation materials.
Fifth. The decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine is obligatory for implementation on the territory of Ukraine; it is final and cannot be grieved.”
Oleksandr Turchynov noted that under the Constitution of Ukraine and the applicable legislation, in case the Constitutional Court recognizes non-constitutionality of activity of Crimean Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada can take the decision on early termination of its powers.
The people’s deputies included the draft resolution into the agenda by 271 votes.
Oleksandr Turchynov read out the text of resolution: “under clause 28 of part one of article 85 of the Constitution of Ukraine; paragraph five of part one of article 22 of the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea; part six of article 4 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea” and in view of the opinion of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine in the Decision No. 2-рп/2014 of March 14, 2014,
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine resolves:
1. To early terminate authorities of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
2. The resolution comes into force on the day of its release.”
Representatives of deputy factions participated in the discussion.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the resolution in entirety and with consideration of the proposals made (278 votes in favor).
The people’s deputy V.Ariev informed about the many-thousand March in support of Ukraine that takes place in Moscow now.
The people’s deputies applauded citizens of Moscow for their support.
The Chairman announced consideration of the issue of setting early local elections and granted the floor to Chair of the Committee on State Building and Local Self-Government Davyd Zhvaniia.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the resolutions on setting early elections of Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi city mayor (Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi city of Kyiv Oblast); Rozhyshchensk city mayor; Piatykhatky city mayor (Piatykhatky city of Piatykhatky region of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast); Monastyrska city mayor (Monastyrska city of Monastyrska region of Ternopil Oblast); and Khotyn city mayor (Khotyn city of Khotyn region of Chernivtsi Oblast).
The Verkhovna Rada adopted 228 resolutions on setting early elections on a point of ad hoc by one voting (270 votes in favor). Elections in all these populated areas were set for May 25, 2014.
The people’s deputy M.Tomenko informed of the complicated situation in the informational space.
Parliamentarians adopted the resolution “On dismissing Kurdinovych O.V. from the post of Chairman of the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine” by 238 votes.
Oleksandr Turchynov addressed the people’s deputies saying that “the situation is extremely dangerous. There is a real threat of intervention into the Ukraine’s territory.” He suggested hold a plenary meeting on Monday at 10 a.m. According to him, it will be necessary to take extremely responsible decisions on amendments to the State Budget of Ukraine to finance needs of the Armed Forces and several other issues.
The Chairman addressed the people’s deputies with a request to indispensably be present at the plenary meeting on Monday and adjourned the plenary session.