February 03, 2016

02/02/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - The Verkhovna Rada adopted in the first reading the amendments to the Constitution related to justice reform

The Verkhovna Rada adopted in the first reading the amendments to the Constitution related to justice reform
The Parliament adopted in the first reading the amendments to the Constitution related to justice reform

02.02.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

  • The Verkhovna Rada adopted in the first reading the amendments to the Constitution related to justice reform.
  • First anniversary of the death of the singer and public figure Kuzma Skryabin.
  • Infamous judge Vovk returned to work in the Pechersk district court of Kyiv.
  • Military Prosecutor Matios called the Volunteer Ukrainian Corps of the Right Sector an illegal armed group.

Key Events in Ukraine

  • The Verkhovna Rada adopted in the first reading a bill on amendments to the Constitution related to judicial reform and justice system. A bill on benefits to the members of the families of the dead participants of the antiterrorist operation and the Revolution of Dignity was adopted. Parliament Speaker Groisman closed the Parliament session and immediately opened the next one.
  • Council on Financial and Economic Stability under the Government of Ukraine named the key risk factors for the Ukrainian economy: falling commodity prices, Russian sanctions, and the devaluation of the national currency.
  • Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Shimkiv said that Ukrainian officials have not received money from the European Union, because the Cabinet failed to develop the civil service reform strategy. He considers himself competent enough to take the Vice-Prime Minister post in the Government.
  • Attorney General Shokin reported that in 2015, the Prosecutor General's Office submitted to court 11 cases on 14 officials. Anticorruption Prosecutor Kholodnytsky said that over 30 proceedings have been opened against high-ranking officials.
  • The State Property Fund proposed to add 20 objects to the list of enterprises to be privatized in 2016, including the Zaporizhya Titanium-Magnesium Plant, the Kharkiv Turboatom Plant, and Odessa Airlines.
  • Chief Military Prosecutor Matios called the Volunteer Ukrainian Corps of the Right Sector an illegal armed group, although he admitted its role in the defense of Donbas.
  • Ukrtransgaz reported that the country imported 0.915 billion m3 of natural gas in January, the entire volume was imported from the EU.
  • Alfa Group bought another Ukrainian bank Neos, previously called the Bank of Cyprus.
  • After a small increase on Monday, the hryvnia fell sharply again: 25.87 ₴/$ (+0.42 UAH), 28.25 ₴/€ (+0.56 UAH), 3.32 ₴/10 ₽ (-0.01 UAH). The hryvnia and the ruble are declining almost simultaneously, with the ratio in this currency pair remaining relatively constant over a long period.

Ukraine at War

  • According to official reports, two soldiers were wounded in the fighting in Donbas. Militants opened fire at the Ukrainian army positions near Horlivka, Donetsk Airport, Maryinka, and Mariupol. Antiterrorist Operation HQ accused the OSCE mission of inaction and refusal to report the constant shelling of Zaitseve checkpoint, which led to its closing.
  • Three activists of the Responsible Citizens civic organization were extradited from Donetsk to the unoccupied territory, including activist Menendez who promoted the idea of ​​reconciliation and justified the actions of the militants.
  • Crimean Tatars leader Islyamov said the activists were ready to continue the commercial blockade of the occupied Crimea if it will be decided to resume trade with the peninsula.
  • In Crimea, after the departure of the Council of Europe delegation, the occupation authorities started searching the houses of the Crimean Tatar activists.

Ukraine and the world

  • The meeting of President Poroshenko with Bundestag delegation was dedicated to the noncompliance by Russia and the militants with the Minsk Agreements. German politicians have confirmed that sanctions against Russia should remain in force until the terms of the Minsk Agreements are met. German MPs advised Poroshenko to ensure elections are held in Donbas.
  • President Poroshenko in an interview with German weekly Bild said that Russia has launched an information war against Germany. To counter Russian propaganda in Europe, it is necessary to start a Russian TV channel to provide Russian-speaking audiences with a source of information alternative to that offered by Russian media channels. He also said that the threat of open warfare with Russia this year is higher than in the past year.
  • German Chancellor Merkel urged Russian President Putin to influence the Donbas militants under his control to encourage the cease-fire and the political settlement in the region.
  • President Obama decided to increase military spending for US programs in Europe four-fold due to the need to protect European allies from Russia’s aggressive plans.

The Trends


  • The President's party is planning to vote in the second reading the bill on amendments to the Constitution related to the judicial reform on February 4 and then immediately try to vote the amendments on "decentralization," providing for a separate law on the special status of the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Head of the People’s Front faction Burbak said that instead it is necessary to prepare the text of the new Constitution reflecting the social contract between the citizens and the state, and take it to a referendum. Burbak named the compliance with the faction’s requirements for the radical renewal of the judiciary to be the condition for its support for the changes to the Constitution adopted on February 2 in the first reading.
  • Radical Party leader Lyashko announced its intention to participate in the new coalition agreement in Parliament, if a compromise is reached on key issues.
  • US Ambassador Pyatt, following the announcement by the the Petro Poroshenko Bloc of its list of ministerial candidates, said that changes in the Government were not necessary, as it would play into the hands of the Kremlin trying to represent Ukraine as a failed state. After the Ambassador’s statement, head of the parliamentary faction of the Peto Poroshenko Bloc Lutsenko said that the faction had not yet finalized the list of its ministerial candidates.
  • The Parliament failed again to pass the imperative mandate law that would allow the President's party to prevent the next candidate on its list, the lawyer of UKROP party leader Korban, from entering the Parliament in case its MPs take jobs in the Government.
  • The Committee of Voters of Ukraine reported the facts of the mass vote buying in Kryvyi Rih by the acting mayor Vilkul in anticipation of repeat elections to be held on March 27.

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