unian--2020-10-30--Zelensky asks Rada to sack all Constitutional Court judges following controversial ruling

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has submitted to Parliament a draft law , offering an early termination of powers of the Constitutional Court 's entire composition .
The text was submitted late Thursday , Oct 29 , the parliament 's website says , adding it was identified as an urgent one .
The move comes following the CCU 's recent judgment that sparked public outrage on the unconstitutionality of certain provisions of the law on corruption prevention and Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code ( inaccurate asset declaration ) .
Read alsoEU Delegation : Constitutional Court 's decision calls into question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in particular , that the relevant CCU ruling is `` null and void , as well as accepted by Constitutional Court judges in conditions of an actual conflict of interest . ''
Zelensky proposes to terminate the powers of CCU judges on the day the law enters into force and proposes to the relevant bodies to immediately launch the competitive selection of a new CCU composition .
`` The Law shall come into force on the day following the date of its publication , '' the bill concludes .
In July 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a motion to recognize unconstitutional the law on the High Anti-Corruption Court of June 7 , 2018 , No .
2447-VIII .
On September 16 , the Constitutional Court ruled unconstitutional certain provisions of the law on the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine .
On July 28 , the CCU declared unconstitutional the presidential decree of April 16 , 2015 on the appointment of Artem Sytnyk as NABU Director .
On October 27 , the CCU , on the motion of 47 legislators , handed down a judgment rescinding Article 366-1 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liability for inaccurate asset declaration by government officials .
Also , the CCU recognized the provisions of the laws on e-declarations ' vetting as unconstitutional and stripped the relevant watchdog , the National Agency on Corruption Prevention of powers to vet declarations and identify conflicts of interest .
The CCU deprived the NACP of access to state registers required for vetting declarations of candidates for government offices , thus blocking the appointment of officials , including those who won in the latest local elections across Ukraine .
The NABU said that as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal cases probing inaccurate asset declaration shall be closed , while officials exposed on abuse will avoid responsibility .
On October 28 , pursuant to the CCU ruling , the NACP shut down public access to the Unified State Register of Asset Declarations , which was restored overnight Friday in line with the Cabinet decision following public outrage .

The recent judgment rolls back the country's anti-corruption reform.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has submitted to Parliament a draft law, offering an early termination of powers of the Constitutional Court's entire composition.
The text was submitted late Thursday, Oct 29, the parliament's website says, adding it was identified as an urgent one.
The move comes following the CCU's recent judgment that sparked public outrage on the unconstitutionality of certain provisions of the law on corruption prevention and Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code (inaccurate asset declaration).
Видео дня
Read alsoEU Delegation: Constitutional Court's decision calls into question Ukraine's commitmentsThe draft law states, in particular, that the relevant CCU ruling is "null and void, as well as accepted by Constitutional Court judges in conditions of an actual conflict of interest."
Zelensky proposes to terminate the powers of CCU judges on the day the law enters into force and proposes to the relevant bodies to immediately launch the competitive selection of a new CCU composition.
"The Law shall come into force on the day following the date of its publication," the bill concludes.
Constitutional Court vs anti-corruption reform: Background
In July 2020, 49 MPs appealed to the Constitutional Court with a motion to recognize unconstitutional the law on the High Anti-Corruption Court of June 7, 2018, No. 2447-VIII.
On September 16, the Constitutional Court ruled unconstitutional certain provisions of the law on the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine.
On July 28, the CCU declared unconstitutional the presidential decree of April 16, 2015 on the appointment of Artem Sytnyk as NABU Director.
On October 27, the CCU, on the motion of 47 legislators, handed down a judgment rescinding Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code, which provides for liability for inaccurate asset declaration by government officials. Also, the CCU recognized the provisions of the laws on e-declarations' vetting as unconstitutional and stripped the relevant watchdog, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention of powers to vet declarations and identify conflicts of interest.
The CCU deprived the NACP of access to state registers required for vetting declarations of candidates for government offices, thus blocking the appointment of officials, including those who won in the latest local elections across Ukraine.
The NABU said that as a result of the CCU move, all criminal cases probing inaccurate asset declaration shall be closed, while officials exposed on abuse will avoid responsibility.
On October 28, pursuant to the CCU ruling, the NACP shut down public access to the Unified State Register of Asset Declarations, which was restored overnight Friday in line with the Cabinet decision following public outrage.


unian--2020-10-29--U.S. Embassy supports Ukrainians after Constitutional Court's notorious decision

U.S. diplomats issued a statement on the court 's decision to block public access to government officials ' e-declarations of assets .
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has declared its support for the Ukrainian people and President Volodymyr Zelensky in the fight against attempts by certain individuals to `` reverse the reforms '' that are being introduced in Ukraine after the Revolution of Dignity .
The Embassy announced in a statement on Twitter on October 29 .
`` The United States supports the people of Ukraine , the Ukrainian Government and President Zelenskyy in the fight against intensifying attacks by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past six years .
Only when the common interest prevails over self-serving individuals will Ukraine realize the aspirations of the Revolution of Dignity , '' it said .
• On October 27 , the Constitutional Court ruled on a motion filed by 47 legislators to repeal Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code , which provides for criminal liability for inaccurate asset declaration by government officials .
• The Constitutional Court also recognized the provisions of laws on the verification of officials ' e-declarations as unconstitutional and deprived the National Agency on Corruption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to check asset declarations and identify conflicts of interest .
• The Constitutional Court , by its decision , blocked the NACP 's access to the state registers necessary for conducting special checks on declarations of candidates nominated for top positions in the government .
Without such vetting , no head of a government agency could be appointed officially .
• On October 28 , the NACP closed access to the State E-Declarations Register .
• On October 28 , the Constitutional Court published the text of the respective decision adopted by its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• The National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine ( NABU ) said that pursuant to the Constitutional Court 's decision , all cases of inaccurate declaration of assets would be closed , and government officials convicted of abuse would thus evade liability .

U.S. diplomats issued a statement on the court's decision to block public access to government officials' e-declarations of assets.
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has declared its support for the Ukrainian people and President Volodymyr Zelensky in the fight against attempts by certain individuals to "reverse the reforms" that are being introduced in Ukraine after the Revolution of Dignity.
The Embassy announced in a statement on Twitter on October 29.
Read alsoCabinet instructs NACP to restore public access to e-declarations register
Видео дня
"The United States supports the people of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Government and President Zelenskyy in the fight against intensifying attacks by vested interests to reverse the reforms of the past six years. Only when the common interest prevails over self-serving individuals will Ukraine realize the aspirations of the Revolution of Dignity," it said.
Constitutional Court's controversial decision on illegal enrichment: Facts


unian--2020-10-30--NSDC doesn't rule out Russia's involvement in Constitutional Court's decision on e-declarations

He says such actions are aimed at destroying Ukraine 's statehood .
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council ( NSDC ) Oleksiy Danilov says he has no doubts that Russia is involved in decision-making by Ukraine 's Constitutional Court on repealing criminal liability for inaccurate e-declarations .
Danilov said this on the air of Savik Shuster 's Freedom of Speech program on TV Channel Ukraina .
`` Speaking at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council yesterday , I stressed that we were tracing clear actions by a certain group of persons aimed at destroying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Such decisions made by these persons [ judges of the Constitutional Court ] are aimed precisely at this .
And believe me , time will pass , everything will fall right into place , and it will be clear who is the mastermind behind this .
I have almost no doubts about a high probability of the aggressor country 's involvement , '' he added .
`` They should be aware that such decisions can not be made without consultation ... but they as figures representing the state should have held @ @ @ @ @ @ @

He says such actions are aimed at destroying Ukraine's statehood.
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov says he has no doubts that Russia is involved in decision-making by Ukraine's Constitutional Court on repealing criminal liability for inaccurate e-declarations.
Danilov said this on the air of Savik Shuster's Freedom of Speech program on TV Channel Ukraina.
Read alsoAnti-graft agency restores public access to government officials' e-declarations
Видео дня
"Speaking at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council yesterday, I stressed that we were tracing clear actions by a certain group of persons aimed at destroying the statehood of Ukraine," Danilov said.
"Such decisions made by these persons [judges of the Constitutional Court] are aimed precisely at this. And believe me, time will pass, everything will fall right into place, and it will be clear who is the mastermind behind this. I have almost no doubts about a high probability of the aggressor country's involvement," he added.
"They should be aware that such decisions cannot be made without consultation ... but they as figures representing the state should have held such consultations," Danilov added.
Constitutional Court's controversial decision on illegal enrichment: Facts


unian--2020-10-30--Ukrainians' housing and utilities debts shrink to US$1.9 bln

The debt decreased by 1.6 % compared to August 2020 .
Debts accumulated by households in Ukraine for housing and utilities services as of the end of September 2020 shrank by 1.6 % from August 2020 , to UAH 54.4 billion , or US $ 1.9 billion .
This is reported by the State Statistics Service of Ukraine .
In particular , households ' debts for delivered natural gas amounted to UAH 21.1 billion as of the end of September .
Debts for centralized heating and hot water stood at UAH 16.3 billion , for the maintenance of apartment buildings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supply of cold water and drainage at UAH 5.8 billion , for the removal of household waste at UAH 1.1 billion .
Unpaid electricity bills were estimated at UAH 5.0 billion .
In September 2020 , households paid UAH 9.1 billion for housing and utilities services , which was 110.3 % of the sums charged for this period .
`` In September 2020 , some 4,900 agreements were concluded with the population to pay off restructured debts for a total of UAH 40.3 million .
The amount of payments made , taking into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million , '' the State Statistics Service added .
• At the end of December 2019 , the population 's debts for provided services of housing and utilities amounted to UAH 63.7 billion .
• At the end of January 2020 , households ' housing and utilities arrears increased by 4.7 % compared to December 2019 , to UAH 67 billion .
• As of the end of February 2020 , housing and utilities debts had decreased by 0.4 % compared to January 2020 , to UAH 66.7 billion .

Ukrainians' housing and utilities debts shrink to US$1.9 bln
21:59, 30.10.20 1638
The debt decreased by 1.6% compared to August 2020.
Помогите проекту
Support us


unian--2020-10-30--Participants in Trilateral Contact Group on Donbas agree on truce after recent violations

The Ukrainian side says the full ceasefire is possible only with Russia 's consent .
Participants in a special meeting of the working subgroup on security issues , which was held as part of Trilateral Contact Group talks in Donbas , have agreed that the ceasefire should be further observed .
The negotiations took place from 17:00 to 19:00 Kyiv time on October 30 , according to the Facebook page of the Ukrainian delegation in the TCG .
Read alsoEscalation in Donbas as two Ukrainian soldiers killed in shelling '' The Ukrainian delegation has demanded from the Russian side and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediate measures to end the violation of the ceasefire and escalation of the armed conflict , which has signs of a preplanned act , '' it said .
Also , the Ukrainian delegation listed the main achievements of the October 30 meeting .
In particular , the parties discussed the recent incidents that took place and led to tragic consequences .
`` The parties agreed to observe the ceasefire regime .
The parties discussed measures to prevent further incidents of ceasefire violations .
The parties agreed to continue consultations at the next TCG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it said .
Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine , the moderator of the working subgroup on security issues at the TCG , Ambassador Yaşar Halit Çevik supported the intentions of the parties to observe the ceasefire .
`` It should be additionally noted that the Ukrainian delegation is aware that it is possible to agree with guarantees when the major actor , who stands behind one of the parties on the contact line , gives its consent to the agreement , '' the statement said .
`` Therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether our counterparts realize the full extent of their responsibility for a possible escalation of the armed conflict ? ''
it said .
• Since midnight on July 27 , a full and comprehensive ceasefire has been in effect along the contact line in the Joint Forces Operation ( JFO ) zone in Donbas .
• The Russian invaders regularly attack the Ukrainian military 's positions .
According to the JFO headquarters , such attacks are an act of provocation to make the Ukrainian side fire back .
• A recent violation was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kyiv time , enemy troops based in the village of Pikuzy mounted an attack towards the village of Vodiane .
They used different types of grenade launchers .
The shelling killed two members of the Ukrainian Marine Corps –Sergeant Volodymyr Bondaryuk and Senior Sergeant Mykhailo Starostin .

The Ukrainian side says the full ceasefire is possible only with Russia's consent.
Participants in a special meeting of the working subgroup on security issues, which was held as part of Trilateral Contact Group talks in Donbas, have agreed that the ceasefire should be further observed.
The negotiations took place from 17:00 to 19:00 Kyiv time on October 30, according to the Facebook page of the Ukrainian delegation in the TCG.
Read alsoEscalation in Donbas as two Ukrainian soldiers killed in shelling
Видео дня
"The Ukrainian delegation has demanded from the Russian side and requested assistance from OSCE representatives to take immediate measures to end the violation of the ceasefire and escalation of the armed conflict, which has signs of a preplanned act," it said.
Also, the Ukrainian delegation listed the main achievements of the October 30 meeting. In particular, the parties discussed the recent incidents that took place and led to tragic consequences.
"The parties agreed to observe the ceasefire regime. The parties discussed measures to prevent further incidents of ceasefire violations. The parties agreed to continue consultations at the next TCG meeting scheduled for November 10," it said.
Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, the moderator of the working subgroup on security issues at the TCG, Ambassador Yaşar Halit Çevik supported the intentions of the parties to observe the ceasefire.
"It should be additionally noted that the Ukrainian delegation is aware that it is possible to agree and have guarantees when the major actor, who stands behind one of the parties on the contact line, gives its consent to the agreement," the statement said.
"Therefore, the Ukrainian delegation's question is whether our counterparts realize the full extent of their responsibility for a possible escalation of the armed conflict?" it said.
War in Donbas: Ceasefire violations by Russia-controlled formations


unian--2020-10-30--EU to impose sanctions against Lukashenko next week

EU to impose sanctions against Lukashenko next week The measures are to be confirmed on November 6 .
The European Union will impose sanctions against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and 14 other Belarusian officials next week .
`` EU ambassadors will on wed give green light to impose asset freezes and visa bans on # Lukashenko & 14 other Belarusians .
Will be confirmed on 6 November , '' he tweeted on October 30 .
• On August 9 , presidential elections were held in Belarus .
According to the CEC 's official data , 80.1 % of voters backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his main opponent Svetlana Tikhanovskaya .
• Following the announcement of the election outcome , protests swept across the country .
Security officials have been detaining and using force against protesters , opening politically charged cases against opposition figures .
Hundreds have been injured , with a few lethal incidents reported .
• The European Union has not recognized election results and decided to impose sanctions on Belarusian officials responsible for rigging the vote and violently cracking down on protesters .
• The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a statement on Belarus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ condemned repression , and supported EU sanctions against Belarusian officials .
• Lukashenko on September 23 secretly sworn in a ceremony held behind closed doors in Minsk .
If you see a spelling error on our site , select it and press Ctrl+Enter

The measures are to be confirmed on November 6.
The European Union will impose sanctions against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and 14 other Belarusian officials next week.
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty reporter Rikard Jozwiak announced this on Twitter.
Read alsoLukashenko accuses Poland, Lithuania of funding Belarus protests
Видео дня
"EU ambassadors will on Wed give green light to impose asset freezes and visa bans on #Lukashenko & 14 other Belarusians. Will be confirmed on 6 November," he tweeted on October 30.
Elections and protests in Belarus: Background


unian--2020-10-30--Yermak, G7 ambassadors meet to discuss Constitutional Court's notorious decision on e-declarations

He also announced an anti-corruption council meeting soon .
Head of the President 's Office Andriy Yermak has met with ambassadors of the G7 countries during which he announced that the fight against corruption in Ukraine is a principled position for the incumbent government .
The main topic of the meeting was recent developments related to a notorious decision made by judges of the Constitutional Court on government officials ' e-declarations , the presidential press service said on October 30 .
Yermak briefed the ambassadors about a special meeting of Ukraine 's National Security and Defense Council ( NSDC ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the government with the participation of the president and the decisions taken at them , the press service said .
Yermak also said that a bill was sent to the Verkhovna Rada the day before , which should restore confidence in the constitutional proceedings in Ukraine .
In his opinion , the events related to the Constitutional Court involved vested interests , so he expressed the hope that law enforcement agencies would be able to assess the situation .
He also said he was convinced that it will be resolved .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all leaders , representatives of anti-corruption agencies know the position of the president : today we are really acting as a united front to defend the reforms that we have carried out and continue to carry out .
The president is very determined , and he will not stop on the path of reforms and the fight against corruption , no matter who is behind it , '' Yermak said .
He also called on representatives of the G7 to monitor the work of the Anti-Corruption Council , which is due to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reaction of all representatives of political forces , `` in order to have a real picture . ''
U.S. Chargé d ’ Affaires , a.i .
Kristina A. Kvien assured that the G7 was ready to help Ukraine further advance on the path of reforms .
Yermak also informed the ambassadors that there is an active dialogue at the level of advisers to the Normandy Four in the context of preparations for a summit of Normandy leaders in the near future .
• On October 27 , the Constitutional Court ruled on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code , which provides for criminal liability for inaccurate asset declaration by government officials .
• The Constitutional Court also recognized the provisions of laws on the verification of officials ' e-declarations as unconstitutional and deprived the National Agency on Corruption Prevention of the authority to check asset declarations and identify conflicts of interest .
• The Constitutional Court , by its decision , blocked the NACP 's access to the state registers necessary for conducting special checks on declarations of candidates nominated for top positions in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of a government agency could be appointed officially .
• On October 28 , the NACP closed access to the State E-Declarations Register .
• On October 28 , the Constitutional Court published the text of the respective decision adopted by its Grand Chamber , composed of 15 judges .
• The National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine ( NABU ) said that pursuant to the Constitutional Court 's decision , all cases of inaccurate declaration of assets would be closed , and government officials convicted of abuse would thus evade liability .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zelensky gave instructions at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council to immediately table a bill in parliament that provides for the restoration of the integrity of legal proceedings in the Constitutional Court .

He also announced an anti-corruption council meeting soon.
Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak has met with ambassadors of the G7 countries during which he announced that the fight against corruption in Ukraine is a principled position for the incumbent government.
The main topic of the meeting was recent developments related to a notorious decision made by judges of the Constitutional Court on government officials' e-declarations, the presidential press service said on October 30.
Yermak briefed the ambassadors on a special meeting of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) on October 29 and an extraordinary meeting of the government with the participation of the president and the decisions taken at them, the press service said.
Видео дня
"The uninterrupted work of the registers of the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NACP) resumed and it was announced that all anti-corruption agencies of Ukraine, including the NACP, NABU [National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine], and others, would continue working," he stressed.
Yermak also said that a bill was sent to the Verkhovna Rada the day before, which should restore confidence in the constitutional proceedings in Ukraine.
In his opinion, the events related to the Constitutional Court involved vested interests, so he expressed the hope that law enforcement agencies would be able to assess the situation. He also said he was convinced that it would be resolved.
"It is very important for us that all leaders, representatives of anti-corruption agencies know the position of the president: today we are really acting as a united front to defend the reforms that we have carried out and continue to carry out. The president is very determined, and he will not stop on the path of reforms and the fight against corruption, no matter who is behind it," Yermak said.
He also called on representatives of the G7 to monitor the work of the Anti-Corruption Council, which is due to meet in the near future, and the reaction of all representatives of political forces, "in order to have a real picture."
U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Kristina A. Kvien assured that the G7 was ready to help Ukraine further advance on the path of reforms.
Yermak also informed the ambassadors that there was an active dialogue at the level of advisers to the Normandy Four leaders in the context of preparations for a summit in the near future.
Constitutional Court's controversial decision on illegal enrichment: Facts


unian--2020-10-30--Tupytsky "sees nothing surprising" in owning land plot in Russian-occupied Crimea

The official claimed he did not know how to properly report the plot in Koreiz .
Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine ( CCU ) Oleksandr Tupytsky says he sees nothing surprising in the fact that in 2018 , he became the owner of a land plot in the village of Koreiz in Russian-occupied Crimea , drawing up a contract of acquisition under Russian law .
Read alsoConstitutional `` anti-constitutional '' coup d'etatHe made the comment at a briefing in Kyiv on October 30 , as reported by an UNIAN correspondent .
Asked whether he saw anything surprising in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ land in Crimea , registered under the legislation of the occupying state , Tupytsky replied : `` No , I do n't ! ''
When journalists stressed that Tupytsky acted under Russian occupation law when drawing up the contract , he asked , `` What was I to do ? ''
Journalists tried to ask a few more questions about Tupytsky 's land plot , but he left the briefing site .
Earlier , Tupytsky said at the briefing that he had not declared the plot in the occupied Crimea because he did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He assured that his `` only fault '' was that he had not asked the National Agency on Corruption Prevention ( NACP ) to explain how to resolve the issue .
On October 28 , journalists with the Skhemy ( Schemes ) program reported that Tupytsky in 2018 became the owner of a land plot in Koreiz , drawing up a contract under Russian law , but failed to reflect this in his assets declaration .
It was reported earlier that Director of the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine Artem Sytnyk also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife in 2017 of the land plot worth RUB 900,000 in the occupied Sevastopol according to the legislation of the occupying state , with the payment of duty to the budget , which was not specified it in the declaration .

The official claimed he did not know how to properly report the plot in Koreiz.
Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine (CCU) Oleksandr Tupytsky says he sees nothing surprising in the fact that in 2018, he became the owner of a land plot in the village of Koreiz in Russian-occupied Crimea, drawing up a contract of acquisition under Russian law.
Read alsoConstitutional "anti-constitutional" coup d'etatHe made the comment at a briefing in Kyiv on October 30, as reported by an UNIAN correspondent.
Asked whether he saw anything surprising in the fact that a CCU Chairman owns land in Crimea, registered under the legislation of the occupying state, Tupytsky replied: "No, I don't!"
Видео дня
When journalists stressed that Tupytsky acted under Russian occupation law when drawing up the contract, he asked, "What was I to do?"
Journalists tried to ask a few more questions about Tupytsky's land plot, but he left the briefing site.
Earlier, Tupytsky said at the briefing that he had not declared the plot in the occupied Crimea because he didn't know how to properly do it.
He assured that his "only fault" was that he had not asked the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) to explain how to resolve the issue.
On October 28, journalists with the Skhemy (Schemes) program reported that Tupytsky in 2018 became the owner of a land plot in Koreiz, drawing up a contract under Russian law, but failed to reflect this in his assets declaration.
It was reported earlier that Director of the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine Artem Sytnyk also hid the fact of sale by his wife in 2017 of the land plot worth RUB 900,000 in the occupied Sevastopol according to the legislation of the occupying state, with the payment of duty to the budget, which was not specified it in the declaration.


unian--2020-10-30--Constitutional "anti-constitutional" coup d'etat

Is the new Maidan broiling to erupt in November ?
This is no rhetorical question .
The skirmish that various branches of government entered into following a scandalous ruling by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine `` to abolish asset declarations '' for officials is not only fraught with street protests , it also poses a threat to statehood .
So this is the background to today 's scandal .
In the summer of 2020 , forty-seven people 's deputies submitted a motion to the Constitutional Court with a request to declare a number of provisions of the anti-corruption reform unconstitutional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concept of `` legal sources of income '' .
And if their lifestyle exceeds legal income , then it is not worth punishing them for this , they believe , because it is completely unclear for what period the income shall be counted , and why it is suddenly deemed `` illegal '' .
Not to mention the fact that parliamentarians are convinced that the gathering by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention ( NACP ) of data on the income of their family members is an interference in private life .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortest possible terms , and as soon as on October 27 satisfied most of the demands set forward by the people 's deputies .
For example , the CCU ruled that criminal liability for corruption offenses is too strict a punshment because `` such actions are incapable of inflicting significant harm . ''
As for the abolition of vetting of e-declarations and monitoring of the officials ' lifestyle , the CCU applied the same kind of argument –illegality of the intervention of the executive branch in the judiciary one .
They say that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has no right to control the lifestyle of judges and calculate their income and expenses .
This is the prerogative of the judiciary only .
Actually , two key aspects should be highlighted here .
First , on the one hand , the CCU judges are right .
The pressure of politicians on judges has n't stopped throughout the years of Ukraine 's independence , under any government .
Each president has been trying to carry out judicial reform in one way or another , and often – to his own benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then the appointment of loyal people to key positions decides a lot .
A loyal majority in parliament , a loyal Cabinet , and loyal judges under control ( from the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court to the Constitutional Court ) equals quiet usurpation of power .
At the same time , to avoid this , judges , especially judges of the Constitutional Court , enjoy a number of guarantees enshrined in the Constitution .
The CCU ruling can not be challenged or repealed , the judges themselves are appointed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismissed ( this can only be done by judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine by two-thirds of the votes ) , they have full immunity for the rulings passed , while changes to these constitutional guarantees must be approved by the Constitutional Court , that is , the judges themselves must agree to these amendments ... Also , in fairness , it is worth noting the clumsily-drafted anti-corruption laws .
Since they were adopted in a rush , for the sake of `` revolutionary expediency '' , this allowed challenging their norms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in turn has led to the CCU ruling that sparked public outrage .
As CCU judges explain , due to the fact that the rules on declarations ' vetting are spelled out in such a way that it is impossible to separate certain categories of officials , the court could not ban the NACP to verify judges ' assets ( as mentioned above , this is the prerogative of the judicial authority ) .
But here one can not rule out another important aspect – the interests of the judges themselves , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the untimely asset reports or filing inaccurate data in their declarations .
According to the Schemes investigative project , the chair of the Constitutional Court , Oleksandr Tupytsky in 2018 became the owner of a land plot in the occupied Crimea .
The deal was formalized in accordance with Russian laws .
But his annual asset declarations for 2018 and 2019 did not reflect the acquisition deal ... Also , as noted by lawyers , the Constitutional Court has exceeded its powers and got into regulating an area it has no jurisdiction over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 366-1 of the Criminal Code `` Inaccurate asset declaration . ''
Recall that the Constitutional Court said that false data in the declarations `` inflict no significant harm '' to society , state , individual , or legal entity .
Therefore , they state , this norm is not so socially threatening as to be considered a crime .
`` The concept and criteria of a crime are established not by the Constitution , but by the Criminal Code .
And it 's the right of the Verkhovna Rada to determine any act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , '' believes the criminologist lawyer , head of the Center for Legal and Criminological Research Anna Maliar .
`` According to Article 8 of Law of Ukraine on the Constitutional Court of Ukraine , the CCU shall not consider issues regarding the compliance of the Verkhovna Rada acts with the laws of Ukraine .
That is , whether the norm of the Criminal Code 's special part is in line with the norm of its general part is beyond the CCU competence .
The CCU must decide whether the norm of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Constitution .
But in the CCU ruling there are no references to articles of the Basic Law , to which Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code does not correspond . ''
Separately , it is worth recalling that the work of anti-corruption bodies in Ukraine is part of our international obligations .
Therefore , it is not surprising that the decision of the Constitutional Court caused great concern in the European Union .
`` The decision calls into question a number of international commitments which Ukraine assumed in relation to its international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urge the Ukrainian authorities to take steps to reinstate as soon as possible the necessary conditions for the effective functioning of the anti-corruption system in Ukraine , in compliance with the Constitution of Ukraine , '' the EU Delegation to Ukraine said in an exclusive commentary to UNIAN .
Unfortunately , instead of trying to resolve the situation efficiently and as painlessly as possible ( this , however , requires strategic thinking , knowledge of legislation , and a will to delve into legal nuances ) , President Volodymyr Zelensky has gone south @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regards their constitutionality and ensuring the necessary changes passed in Parliament ( with a majority in the Verkhovna Rada , it would n't be difficult ) , the head of state decided to disperse that very composition of the CCU that last year allowed him to disperse the previous parliament convocation .
So , he submitted to Parliament a bill `` On the Restoration of Public Confidence in Constitutional Proceedings . ''
For some reason , the bill offers Parliament ( not the law enforcement agencies , as it should be , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the CCU judges have committed criminal offenses – issuing an unjust ruling , attempting to overthrow the constitutional order and seizing state power .
Candidate of Legal Sciences , constitutionalist Mykola Marchenko emphasizes that the draft is completely contrary to the Constitution .
`` The principle of separation of powers does not allow for the possibility of arbitrary assessment by president and parliament of the Constitutional Court rulings .
The Criminal Code contains no such a crime as 'unjust ruling ' .
Therefore , Zelensky 's bill is a path into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achievements since 1991 .
According to Art .
102 Part 1 of the Constitution , a President is the guarantor of the observance of the Constitution .
However , Zelensky clearly acts as a guarantor of the destruction of democratic institutions , '' the expert notes .
And the question is n't only that fighting the CCU 's unconstitutional ruling by unconstitutional means would mean admitting that the end justifies the means .
It 's also about the fact that compromising the country 's judicial system ( of course , not without the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) entails plenty of other issues : from the distrust of Ukrainians in the judiciary to the unwillingness of foreign investors to do business in Ukraine , since it would seem impossible for them to protect themselves and their assets in Ukrainian realities .
Is there a way out of the situation ?
There is one .
But to this end , all parties should just calm down , take a deep breath , and refrain from any hasty steps so as not to make things worse .
Unfortunately , there are fewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it seems .
If you see a spelling error on our site , select it and press Ctrl+Enter

Is the new Maidan broiling to erupt in November? This is no rhetorical question. The skirmish that various branches of government entered into following a scandalous ruling by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine "to abolish asset declarations" for officials is not only fraught with street protests, it also poses a threat to statehood.
So this is the background to today's scandal. In the summer of 2020, forty-seven people's deputies submitted a motion to the Constitutional Court with a request to declare a number of provisions of the anti-corruption reform unconstitutional. The deputies did not understand the concept of "legal sources of income". And if their lifestyle exceeds legal income, then it is not worth punishing them for this, they believe, because it is completely unclear for what period the income shall be counted, and why it is suddenly deemed "illegal". Not to mention the fact that parliamentarians are convinced that the gathering by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) of data on the income of their family members is an interference in private life.
The Constitutional Court considered the motion at the shortest possible terms, and as soon as on October 27 satisfied most of the demands set forward by the people's deputies. For example, the CCU ruled that criminal liability for corruption offenses is too strict a punshment because "such actions are incapable of inflicting significant harm." As for the abolition of vetting of e-declarations and monitoring of the officials' lifestyle, the CCU applied the same kind of argument –illegality of the intervention of the executive branch in the judiciary one. They say that the NACP, controlled by the Cabinet, has no right to control the lifestyle of judges and calculate their income and expenses. This is the prerogative of the judiciary only.
Actually, two key aspects should be highlighted here.
Видео дня
First, on the one hand, the CCU judges are right. The pressure of politicians on judges hasn't stopped throughout the years of Ukraine's independence, under any government. Each president has been trying to carry out judicial reform in one way or another, and often – to his own benefit. And if not everything works well, then the appointment of loyal people to key positions decides a lot. A loyal majority in parliament, a loyal Cabinet, and loyal judges under control (from the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court to the Constitutional Court) equals quiet usurpation of power.
At the same time, to avoid this, judges, especially judges of the Constitutional Court, enjoy a number of guarantees enshrined in the Constitution. The CCU ruling cannot be challenged or repealed, the judges themselves are appointed for nine years and they cannot be dismissed (this can only be done by judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine by two-thirds of the votes), they have full immunity for the rulings passed, while changes to these constitutional guarantees must be approved by the Constitutional Court, that is, the judges themselves must agree to these amendments...
Also, in fairness, it is worth noting the clumsily-drafted anti-corruption laws. Since they were adopted in a rush, for the sake of "revolutionary expediency", this allowed challenging their norms in the Constitutional Court. And this in turn has led to the CCU ruling that sparked public outrage.
As CCU judges explain, due to the fact that the rules on declarations' vetting are spelled out in such a way that it is impossible to separate certain categories of officials, the court could not ban the NACP to verify judges' assets (as mentioned above, this is the prerogative of the judicial authority).
But here one cannot rule out another important aspect – the interests of the judges themselves, who became targets of the NACP due to the untimely asset reports or filing inaccurate data in their declarations. According to the Schemes investigative project, the chair of the Constitutional Court, Oleksandr Tupytsky in 2018 became the owner of a land plot in the occupied Crimea. The deal was formalized in accordance with Russian laws. But his annual asset declarations for 2018 and 2019 did not reflect the acquisition deal...
Also, as noted by lawyers, the Constitutional Court has exceeded its powers and got into regulating an area it has no jurisdiction over. It's about recognizing unconstitutional Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code "Inaccurate asset declaration." Recall that the Constitutional Court said that false data in the declarations "inflict no significant harm" to society, state, individual, or legal entity. Therefore, they state, this norm is not so socially threatening as to be considered a crime.
"The concept and criteria of a crime are established not by the Constitution, but by the Criminal Code. And it's the right of the Verkhovna Rada to determine any act as a public threat and to criminalize it," believes the criminologist lawyer, head of the Center for Legal and Criminological Research Anna Maliar. "According to Article 8 of Law of Ukraine on the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, the CCU shall not consider issues regarding the compliance of the Verkhovna Rada acts with the laws of Ukraine. That is, whether the norm of the Criminal Code's special part is in line with the norm of its general part is beyond the CCU competence. The CCU must decide whether the norm of the Criminal Code is in line with the Constitution. But in the CCU ruling there are no references to articles of the Basic Law, to which Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code does not correspond."
Separately, it is worth recalling that the work of anti-corruption bodies in Ukraine is part of our international obligations. Therefore, it is not surprising that the decision of the Constitutional Court caused great concern in the European Union.
"The decision calls into question a number of international commitments which Ukraine assumed in relation to its international partners, including the EU. We urge the Ukrainian authorities to take steps to reinstate as soon as possible the necessary conditions for the effective functioning of the anti-corruption system in Ukraine, in compliance with the Constitution of Ukraine," the EU Delegation to Ukraine said in an exclusive commentary to UNIAN.
Unfortunately, instead of trying to resolve the situation efficiently and as painlessly as possible (this, however, requires strategic thinking, knowledge of legislation, and a will to delve into legal nuances), President Volodymyr Zelensky has gone south. Instead of analyzing anti-corruption laws as regards their constitutionality and ensuring the necessary changes passed in Parliament (with a majority in the Verkhovna Rada, it wouldn't be difficult), the head of state decided to disperse that very composition of the CCU that last year allowed him to disperse the previous parliament convocation. So, he submitted to Parliament a bill "On the Restoration of Public Confidence in Constitutional Proceedings."
For some reason, the bill offers Parliament (not the law enforcement agencies, as it should be, according to the Criminal Code) to recognize that the CCU judges have committed criminal offenses – issuing an unjust ruling, attempting to overthrow the constitutional order and seizing state power.
Candidate of Legal Sciences, constitutionalist Mykola Marchenko emphasizes that the draft is completely contrary to the Constitution. "The principle of separation of powers does not allow for the possibility of arbitrary assessment by president and parliament of the Constitutional Court rulings. The Criminal Code contains no such a crime as 'unjust ruling'. Therefore, Zelensky's bill is a path into the legal abyss and destruction of all democratic achievements since 1991. According to Art. 102 Part 1 of the Constitution, a President is the guarantor of the observance of the Constitution. However, Zelensky clearly acts as a guarantor of the destruction of democratic institutions," the expert notes.
And the question isn't only that fighting the CCU's unconstitutional ruling by unconstitutional means would mean admitting that the end justifies the means. It's also about the fact that compromising the country's judicial system (of course, not without the "help" of the odious judges) entails plenty of other issues: from the distrust of Ukrainians in the judiciary to the unwillingness of foreign investors to do business in Ukraine, since it would seem impossible for them to protect themselves and their assets in Ukrainian realities.
Is there a way out of the situation? There is one. But to this end, all parties should just calm down, take a deep breath, and refrain from any hasty steps so as not to make things worse. Unfortunately, there are fewer prerequisites now for a reasonable maneuver, it seems.
Tetiana Urbanskaya


unian--2020-10-30--SBI launches probe against Constitutional Court chair

In 2018 , Tupytsky became an owner of a land plot in the occupied Crimea , having fixed the deal under Russian law , thus allegedly recognizing Russian sovereignty over the occupied peninsula .
The State Bureau of Investigation has started an investigation into an unauthorized seizure of a land plot in the temporarily occupied Crimea , as well as high treason committed by Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine , Oleksandr Tupytsky .
That 's according to acting SBI Director Oleksiy Sukhachov .
According to preliminary reports , the CCU chief in July 2018 conspired with other persons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not allocated to him in accordance with the procedure established by Ukrainian legislation , and entered into a deal , which recognized the powers of Russian authorities to file records on the alienation of the Ukrainian land plot and classify it as falling under the Russian jurisdiction .
Thus , the SBI claims , he could have committed an act to the detriment of sovereignty , territorial integrity , state and economic security of Ukraine , qualified under Article 197-1 Part 2 ( unauthorized occupation of a land plot and unauthorized construction ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state treason ) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine .
The top judge is facing 12 to 15 years in prison if his guilt is proved in court .
On October 28 , the Schemes investigative project first reported on the land deal in Crimea regarding Tupytsky .
The CCU chair , journalists said , became the owner of a land plot in the village of Koreiz in the Russian-occupied Crimea , having drawn up a purchase and sale agreement under Russian law , while failing to report this information in his annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Constitutional Court , chaired by Judge Tupytsky , ruled to abolish criminal liability for filing inaccurate information in asset declarations .
The move sparked public outrage as a sign of an anti-corruption reform rollback .
President Zelensky has tabled in Parliament an urgent bill set to dismiss all judges of the Constitutional Court before the new composition could be selected .

In 2018, Tupytsky became an owner of a land plot in the occupied Crimea, having fixed the deal under Russian law, thus allegedly recognizing Russian sovereignty over the occupied peninsula.
The State Bureau of Investigation has started an investigation into an unauthorized seizure of a land plot in the temporarily occupied Crimea, as well as high treason committed by Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, Oleksandr Tupytsky.
That's according to acting SBI Director Oleksiy Sukhachov.
"Detectives with the State Bureau of Investigation have launched a pre-trial investigation into the facts of unauthorized occupation of a land plot by a group of persons, as well as high treason by the chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine," Sukhachov said.
According to preliminary reports, the CCU chief in July 2018 conspired with other persons to arbitrarily occupy a land plot, not allocated to him in accordance with the procedure established by Ukrainian legislation, and entered into a deal, which recognized the powers of Russian authorities to file records on the alienation of the Ukrainian land plot and classify it as falling under the Russian jurisdiction.
Thus, the SBI claims, he could have committed an act to the detriment of sovereignty, territorial integrity, state and economic security of Ukraine, qualified under Article 197-1 Part 2 (unauthorized occupation of a land plot and unauthorized construction) and part 1 of Article 111 (state treason) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The top judge is facing 12 to 15 years in prison if his guilt is proved in court.
Background
On October 28, the Schemes investigative project first reported on the land deal in Crimea regarding Tupytsky. The CCU chair, journalists said, became the owner of a land plot in the village of Koreiz in the Russian-occupied Crimea, having drawn up a purchase and sale agreement under Russian law, while failing to report this information in his annual asset declaration.
On October 29, the Constitutional Court, chaired by Judge Tupytsky, ruled to abolish criminal liability for filing inaccurate information in asset declarations.
The move sparked public outrage as a sign of an anti-corruption reform rollback.
President Zelensky has tabled in Parliament an urgent bill set to dismiss all judges of the Constitutional Court before the new composition could be selected.


unian--2020-10-30--Ukraine's economy to fully recover from coronacrisis in 2022 – NBU

Get a complete information picture of the day by subscribing to UNIAN ’ s news feeds .
For more information @ @ @ @

Ukraine's economy to fully recover from coronacrisis in 2022 – NBU
16:15, 30.10.20 699
Private consumption will remain the main driver of 4% GDP growth in 2021-2022.
Помогите проекту
Support us


unian--2020-10-31--Week's balance: Naftogaz raises gas price for households, Cabinet allocates billions to help unemplo

Week's balance: Naftogaz raises gas price for households, Cabinet allocates billions to help unemployed and miners, while budget deficit keeps growing

State-owned energy giant Naftogaz of Ukraine has raised by a third the gas price for households , the Cabinet of Ministers allocated almost UAH 3 billion for salaries to miners and payments to the unemployed , while the State Treasury announced a fourfold increase in the country 's budget deficit - these are the main economic developments in the outgoing week .
The last week of October will be remembered for the controversial ruling by the Constitutional Court , which rescinded Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code ( inaccurate asset declaration by officials ) .
This caused a storm of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as the President 's Office .
On Friday , several thousand protesters rallied outside the CCU HQ in Kyiv against what they saw as a rollback of the anti-corruption reform .
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday convened an urgent closed-door meeting of the National Security and Defense Council , following which a bill was drafted on dismissing all CCU judges , while the very CCU ruling was proposed to be considered `` null and void '' .
`` The crushing blows that are being inflicted on the country 's achievements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countering corruption in Ukraine can not be ignored .
An immediate and tough assessment is required of the decisions made by individual actors , whose actions are bringing more and more public threat , '' Zelensky said .
It is obvious that Ukraine runs the risk of undermining confidence of the international community and seeing cooperation with international creditors freeze , which would be extremely untimely amid the ongoing coronacrisis .
Meanwhile , the EU Delegation to Ukraine has warned that the Bloc 's assistance to Ukraine , including financial one , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independently , effectively , and free from political or other pressure .
It is likely that in early November , the theme of the anti-corruption reform being impeded by the judiciary will prevail .
So we are yet to see heated discussions both at the Verkhovna Rada hall and at other venues .
In the outgoing week , the state-owned energy holding Naftogaz of Ukraine increased the gas price for households in November by a third against the previous month – to UAH 6.33 per cubic meter .
`` Changes in gas prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seasonal factor and an increase in the wholesale price , '' the company explained .
It should be noted that in November , Naftogaz offered its consumers the lowest gas price among other suppliers .
According to the Association of Energy Suppliers , the highest price awaits the consumers of Zaporizhgazzbut – at UAH 8.96 per cubic meter .
The average price across Ukraine increased by a quarter – from UAH 5.77 to UAH 7.16 per cubic meter .
Also , Naftogaz warned that the start of the heating season was under threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debts accumulated by local heating suppliers .
In addition to the capital , there are debtors in Dnipropetrovsk , , Zhytomyr , Kyiv , Odesa , Poltava , Kharkiv , Kherson , Cherkasy , and Chernivtsi , Donetsk , and Luhansk regions .
At the same time , many regions have already started or are launching the heating season .
At its meeting on Wednesday , the Cabinet decided to partially support Ukrainians financially affected by the economic crisis and pandemic .
The government decided to allocate additional funds in the amount of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fund for the payment of unemployment ( including partial ) benefits during the quarantine period .
According to the Minister for Development of Economy , Trade and Agriculture Ihor Petrashko , since quarantine start , more than UAH 10 billion in unemployment benefits , more than UAH 2.5 billion in partial unemployment assistance has already been paid , and 370,000 jobs have been saved .
The government also redistributed UAH 1.4 billion to pay wages to miners under the national program `` Restructuring the Coal Industry '' .
As noted by the acting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buslavets , who last week met with the miners ' professional union leaders , although the government plans to close mines in the eastern regions of Ukraine in the foreseeable future , this will be done in stages , allowing people to adapt to new conditions .
`` We have no plans to shut everything down and dismiss people in one or two years .
Everything will happen in such a way as to take into account all the needs of those living in coal regions .
We need to show people the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and support their families , '' Buslavets stressed .
Another high-profile decision the government made was to redistribute almost UAH 62 million from the cancer research program for road repairs in Lviv region .
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal explained that the move would not affect treatment of cancer patients , since a record amount was allocated to this end in 2020 anyway .
Incidentally , the other day the Finance Ministry reported on the expenses of the COVID-19 Relief Fund : more than half of the funds has already been utilized .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stipulated funds ( UAH 5.8 billion ) went for the healthcare sector and UAH 2.7 billion – for additional payments to medics , which is slightly less than half .
This week , the State Treasury Service reported that the state budget in January-September was executed with a UAH 81.7 billion deficit , which has quadruplicated on year .
The consolidated budget in January-September was executed with a deficit of UAH 58.9 billion against a surplus of UAH 8.7 billion for the same period in 2019 .
Despite crisis , the sale of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds to replenish the state coffers .
Last week , the State Property Fund sold three more companies that were part of the former national monopoly on alcohol production , Ukrspyrt .
Thus , privatization of the six distilleries throughout October brought Ukraine over UAH 300 million .
Meanwhile , without explaining the reasons , the Cabinet took such major SOEs as Artemsil , State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine , and Bread of Ukraine , off the privatization list .
Perhaps the time has not yet come for their sale , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough for the country to be handed over to private investors .
Among this week 's positive reports , there came the statement by the State Statistics Service on wages having grown by over 12 % over the year .
The average nominal wage of a full-time employee in September 2020 stood at UAH 11,998 .
At the same time , wage arrears across Ukraine as of late September increased by 4 % against the previous month , amounting to more than UAH 3.5 billion .
In the last week of October , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the National Bank 's official rate was fixed at UAH 28.44 to the U.S. dollar as the hryvnia weakened by 4 kopiykas .
For Monday , November 2 , the regulator set the official rate at UAH 28.45 to the dollar .
Next week promises to be no less important for the Ukrainian economy .
Lawmakers are set to consider the draft 2021 state budget , unless , of course , any new quarantine restrictions or an increase in the number of infected MPs become an obstacle .
According to weather forecasts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ snap and rain .
Hopefully , this will not prevent Ukrainian farmers from successfully completing their harvesting campaign .
If you see a spelling error on our site , select it and press Ctrl+Enter

State-owned energy giant Naftogaz of Ukraine has raised by a third the gas price for households, the Cabinet of Ministers allocated almost UAH 3 billion for salaries to miners and payments to the unemployed, while the State Treasury announced a fourfold increase in the country's budget deficit - these are the main economic developments in the outgoing week.
The last week of October will be remembered for the controversial ruling by the Constitutional Court, which rescinded Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code (inaccurate asset declaration by officials).
This caused a storm of discontent among ordinary Ukrainians, expert community, as well as the President's Office. On Friday, several thousand protesters rallied outside the CCU HQ in Kyiv against what they saw as a rollback of the anti-corruption reform.
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday convened an urgent closed-door meeting of the National Security and Defense Council, following which a bill was drafted on dismissing all CCU judges, while the very CCU ruling was proposed to be considered "null and void".
Видео дня
"The crushing blows that are being inflicted on the country's achievements in the field of combating and effectively countering corruption in Ukraine cannot be ignored. An immediate and tough assessment is required of the decisions made by individual actors, whose actions are bringing more and more public threat," Zelensky said.
It is obvious that Ukraine runs the risk of undermining confidence of the international community and seeing cooperation with international creditors freeze, which would be extremely untimely amid the ongoing coronacrisis.
Meanwhile, the EU Delegation to Ukraine has warned that the Bloc's assistance to Ukraine, including financial one, is directly related to anti-corruption bodies that work independently, effectively, and free from political or other pressure.
It is likely that in early November, the theme of the anti-corruption reform being impeded by the judiciary will prevail. So we are yet to see heated discussions both at the Verkhovna Rada hall and at other venues.
Gas price rise
In the outgoing week, the state-owned energy holding Naftogaz of Ukraine increased the gas price for households in November by a third against the previous month – to UAH 6.33 per cubic meter.
"Changes in gas prices in November are primarily due to the seasonal factor and an increase in the wholesale price," the company explained.
It should be noted that in November, Naftogaz offered its consumers the lowest gas price among other suppliers.
According to the Association of Energy Suppliers, the highest price awaits the consumers of Zaporizhgazzbut – at UAH 8.96 per cubic meter. The average price across Ukraine increased by a quarter – from UAH 5.77 to UAH 7.16 per cubic meter.
Also, Naftogaz warned that the start of the heating season was under threat in 24 settlements due to the critical debts accumulated by local heating suppliers.
In addition to the capital, there are debtors in Dnipropetrovsk, , Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Odesa, Poltava, Kharkiv, Kherson, Cherkasy, and Chernivtsi, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions.
At the same time, many regions have already started or are launching the heating season.
Government payments
At its meeting on Wednesday, the Cabinet decided to partially support Ukrainians financially affected by the economic crisis and pandemic. The government decided to allocate additional funds in the amount of UAH 1.3 billion from the COVID-19 Relief Fund for the payment of unemployment (including partial) benefits during the quarantine period.
According to the Minister for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture Ihor Petrashko, since quarantine start, more than UAH 10 billion in unemployment benefits, more than UAH 2.5 billion in partial unemployment assistance has already been paid, and 370,000 jobs have been saved.
The government also redistributed UAH 1.4 billion to pay wages to miners under the national program "Restructuring the Coal Industry".
As noted by the acting head of the Energy Ministry, Olha Buslavets, who last week met with the miners' professional union leaders, although the government plans to close mines in the eastern regions of Ukraine in the foreseeable future, this will be done in stages, allowing people to adapt to new conditions.
"We have no plans to shut everything down and dismiss people in one or two years. Everything will happen in such a way as to take into account all the needs of those living in coal regions. We need to show people the prospects where exactly they can make money and support their families," Buslavets stressed.
Another high-profile decision the government made was to redistribute almost UAH 62 million from the cancer research program for road repairs in Lviv region.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal explained that the move would not affect treatment of cancer patients, since a record amount was allocated to this end in 2020 anyway.
Incidentally, the other day the Finance Ministry reported on the expenses of the COVID-19 Relief Fund: more than half of the funds has already been utilized. In particular, about a third of the stipulated funds (UAH 5.8 billion) went for the healthcare sector and UAH 2.7 billion – for additional payments to medics, which is slightly less than half.
Budget hole expanding
This week, the State Treasury Service reported that the state budget in January-September was executed with a UAH 81.7 billion deficit, which has quadruplicated on year.
The consolidated budget in January-September was executed with a deficit of UAH 58.9 billion against a surplus of UAH 8.7 billion for the same period in 2019.
Despite crisis, the sale of state-owned enterprises continues, which allows raising funds to replenish the state coffers. Last week, the State Property Fund sold three more companies that were part of the former national monopoly on alcohol production, Ukrspyrt. Thus, privatization of the six distilleries throughout October brought Ukraine over UAH 300 million.
Meanwhile, without explaining the reasons, the Cabinet took such major SOEs as Artemsil, State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine, and Bread of Ukraine, off the privatization list. Perhaps the time has not yet come for their sale, or perhaps the government considered them important enough for the country to be handed over to private investors.
Among this week's positive reports, there came the statement by the State Statistics Service on wages having grown by over 12% over the year. The average nominal wage of a full-time employee in September 2020 stood at UAH 11,998.
At the same time, wage arrears across Ukraine as of late September increased by 4% against the previous month, amounting to more than UAH 3.5 billion.
In the last week of October, the hryvnia kept sliding. On Friday, the National Bank's official rate was fixed at UAH 28.44 to the U.S. dollar as the hryvnia weakened by 4 kopiykas. For Monday, November 2, the regulator set the official rate at UAH 28.45 to the dollar.
Next week promises to be no less important for the Ukrainian economy. Lawmakers are set to consider the draft 2021 state budget, unless, of course, any new quarantine restrictions or an increase in the number of infected MPs become an obstacle.
According to weather forecasts, November will start with some cold snap and rain. Hopefully, this will not prevent Ukrainian farmers from successfully completing their harvesting campaign.
Anna Nahorna


unian--2020-10-31--War in Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenia asks Putin for help

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin with `` detailed information '' on the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh , Armenia 's foreign ministry reports .
It is noted that Pashinyan wrote of the alleged deployment of `` foreign terrorists from the Middle East '' and their participation in Nagorno-Karabakh hostilities .
`` The prime minister appealed to the President of the Russian Federation to hold immediate consultations in order to determine the type and amount of assistance that the Russian Federation is able to provide to the Republic of Armenia to ensure its security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armenia and Russia and Article 2 of the Treaty on Friendship , Cooperation and Mutual Assistance of August 29 , 1997 , '' the statement says .
`` According to the Agreement , Russia will provide Yerevan all the assistance required if hostilities shift directly to the Armenian territory , '' the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement .
Baku has not yet published an official response to the rival 's move .
However , on the evening of October 30 , the country announced that the Azerbaijani army destroyed the Osa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces , in the Aghdam direction of the front line .
Read also '' Extreme concern '' in EU over extended fighting in Nagorno-KarabakhThe day before , the top diplomats of Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed on further steps to resolve the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh .
After six hours of talks , the parties decided not to open fire at the civilian population in the region .
Prior to that , multiple ceasefire agreements were immediately breached once concluded , with both sides trading accusations of violations .
On September 27 , fighting resumed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nagorno-Karabakh region .
Both countries blamed each other for shelling as a result of which they suffered casualties .
Armenia and the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic declared martial law and general mobilization .
Azerbaijan , in turn , introduced martial law on September 28 .
Partial mobilization was announced in that country .
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said Ukraine consistently supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan .
The UN Security Council has called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to immediately stop fighting .
The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
In 1991-1994 , the bloodshed conflict continued in the region , which ended with the signing of a ceasefire protocol .
Nagorno-Karabakh proclaimed itself an independent `` republic . ''
Azerbaijan did not recognize this , considering the territory to have been occupied by Armenia .

Russia has already responded.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin with "detailed information" on the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia's foreign ministry reports.
It is noted that Pashinyan wrote of the alleged deployment of "foreign terrorists from the Middle East" and their participation in Nagorno-Karabakh hostilities.
"The prime minister appealed to the President of the Russian Federation to hold immediate consultations in order to determine the type and amount of assistance that the Russian Federation is able to provide to the Republic of Armenia to ensure its security, based on the allied relations between Armenia and Russia and Article 2 of the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance of August 29, 1997," the statement says.
Russia on Saturday, October 30, responded to Armenia's appeal.
"According to the Agreement, Russia will provide Yerevan all the assistance required if hostilities shift directly to the Armenian territory," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
Azerbaijan's stance
Baku has not yet published an official response to the rival's move. However, on the evening of October 30, the country announced that the Azerbaijani army destroyed the Osa anti-aircraft missile system, used by Armenian forces, in the Aghdam direction of the front line.
Read also"Extreme concern" in EU over extended fighting in Nagorno-KarabakhThe day before, the top diplomats of Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed on further steps to resolve the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. After six hours of talks, the parties decided not to open fire at the civilian population in the region.
Prior to that, multiple ceasefire agreements were immediately breached once concluded, with both sides trading accusations of violations.
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Background
On September 27, fighting resumed between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Both countries blamed each other for shelling as a result of which they suffered casualties.
Armenia and the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic declared martial law and general mobilization.
Azerbaijan, in turn, introduced martial law on September 28. Partial mobilization was announced in that country.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said Ukraine consistently supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
The UN Security Council has called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to immediately stop fighting.
Nagorno-Karabakh war: History
The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region began in 1988, when the predominantly Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.
In 1991-1994, the bloodshed conflict continued in the region, which ended with the signing of a ceasefire protocol. Nagorno-Karabakh proclaimed itself an independent "republic." Azerbaijan did not recognize this, considering the territory to have been occupied by Armenia.


unian--2020-10-31--Ukraine's foreign minister names conditions for meeting with Belarus' opposition leaders

He says Ukraine is in constant dialogue with the Belarusian people .
Ukraine 's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has named conditions for holding a meeting with leaders of the Belarusian opposition .
He announced them during a break in the TV program `` Freedom of Speech by Savik Shuster '' on TV Channel Ukraina .
`` Ukraine is in constant dialogue with the Belarusian people .
It does not exchange words of support , but makes decisions in support of the Belarusian people .
This is also a dialogue , '' Kuleba said .
`` We are ready to conduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarusian opposition .
But as the Minister of Foreign Affairs , before entering into this dialogue , I must clearly make sure what will be the position of those people in relation to Ukraine , in relation to Russian aggression , in relation to the illegal occupation of Crimea if they will come to power , and , in particular , with our support , '' Kuleba stressed .
He also said that Ukraine in no way wants and will not interfere in the internal affairs of Belarus .
`` But we clearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opposition leaders will pursue if they become those in power .
After that , I am ready to meet .
In the meantime , what they are voicing is very much about nothing , '' he said .
• On August 9 , presidential elections were held in Belarus .
According to the Central Election Commission 's official data , 80.1 % of voters backed Alexander Lukashenko , and 10.1 % voted for his main rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya .
• Following the announcement of the election outcome , protests swept across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and using force against protesters , opening politically charged cases against opposition figures .
Hundreds have been injured , with a few lethal incidents reported .
• The Belarusian opposition has created the Coordination Council for the Transfer of Power .
• The European Union has not recognized the election results and decided to impose sanctions on Belarusian officials responsible for rigging the vote and violently cracking down on protesters .
• On September 15 , the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a statement on Belarus .
The MPs branded the elections unfair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctions against Belarusian officials .
• Lukashenko on September 23 secretly sworn in a ceremony held behind closed doors in Minsk .
• On October 26 , a national strike of indefinite duration began in Belarus .

He says Ukraine is in constant dialogue with the Belarusian people.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has named conditions for holding a meeting with leaders of the Belarusian opposition.
He announced them during a break in the TV program "Freedom of Speech by Savik Shuster" on TV Channel Ukraina.
Read alsoMFA Ukraine rejects Minsk's accusations of unfriendly act
Видео дня
"Ukraine is in constant dialogue with the Belarusian people. It does not exchange words of support, but makes decisions in support of the Belarusian people. This is also a dialogue," Kuleba said.
"We are ready to conduct a dialogue with the leaders of the Belarusian opposition. But as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, before entering into this dialogue, I must clearly make sure what will be the position of those people in relation to Ukraine, in relation to Russian aggression, in relation to the illegal occupation of Crimea if they will come to power, and, in particular, with our support," Kuleba stressed.
He also said that Ukraine in no way wants and will not interfere in the internal affairs of Belarus.
"But we clearly want to understand what kind of policy the opposition leaders will pursue if they become those in power. After that, I am ready to meet. In the meantime, what they are voicing is very much about nothing," he said.
Elections and protests in Belarus: Background


unian--2020-10-31--Silence in Donbas following TCG emergency meeting

On Friday , two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and three injured in enemy attacks .
The Russian-controlled forces since day-start on Saturday , October 31 , have held their fire in Donbas after the Trilateral Contact Group held an extraordinary meeting on Friday evening following the latest escalation that took lives of two Ukrainian soldiers .
That 's according to a morning update by the Joint Forces Operation Command , published on its Facebook page .
`` The situation in the Operation zone remains under control of Joint Forces ' units .
Ukrainian defenders , being prepared to deliver an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are conscientiously carrying out their tasks as intended , '' the report says .
At the same time , the Command recalled that on October 30 , the enemy three times violated the ceasefire agreements of July 22 three times .
Near Vodiane , they twice opened fire using grenade launchers and small arms , killing two Ukrainian soldiers .
Another attack was later reported in the same area .
Read alsoRussia-controlled forces restricting OSCE patrol 's freedom of movement in DonbasIn this regard , Ukraine initiated an emergency meeting of the Trilateral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the meeting , the Ukrainian delegation announced that the enemy agreed to observe the silence regime along the contact line .
Since midnight on July 27 , a full and comprehensive ceasefire has been in effect in the zone of the Joint Forces Operation in Donbas .
• Ukraine at TCG discusses new sites for disengagement in Donbas • OSCE : Maintaining sustainable ceasefire in Donbas depends on parties ' political will • Chief of Ukraine delegation tells of Moscow 's new offer in TCG , Kyiv 's reaction

On Friday, two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and three injured in enemy attacks.
The Russian-controlled forces since day-start on Saturday, October 31, have held their fire in Donbas after the Trilateral Contact Group held an extraordinary meeting on Friday evening following the latest escalation that took lives of two Ukrainian soldiers.
That's according to a morning update by the Joint Forces Operation Command, published on its Facebook page.
"The situation in the Operation zone remains under control of Joint Forces' units. Ukrainian defenders, being prepared to deliver an immediate response to any enemy action, are conscientiously carrying out their tasks as intended," the report says.
At the same time, the Command recalled that on October 30, the enemy three times violated the ceasefire agreements of July 22 three times. Near Vodiane, they twice opened fire using grenade launchers and small arms, killing two Ukrainian soldiers. Another attack was later reported in the same area.
Read alsoRussia-controlled forces restricting OSCE patrol's freedom of movement in DonbasIn this regard, Ukraine initiated an emergency meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on Friday night. Following the meeting, the Ukrainian delegation announced that the enemy agreed to observe the silence regime along the contact line.
Since midnight on July 27, a full and comprehensive ceasefire has been in effect in the zone of the Joint Forces Operation in Donbas.
Donbas war: Other reports


unian--2020-10-31--New daily COVID-19 cases on steady rise in Ukraine

Since the onset of the pandemic , 7,196 people have died from complications , including 155 over the past 24 hours .
As of 9:00 on October 31 , Ukraine reported 8,752 new COVID-19 cases , the highest number since pandemic-start .
Yesterday , it was 8,312 new cases , according to the interactive map compiled by the National Security and Defense Council .
In total , 387,481 people got infected across the country , while 158,928 recovered ( 3,902 on October 30 ) .
Read alsoAnother mayor in Ukraine dies of COVID-19Most new cases were recorded in Kyiv ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Kharkiv ( 622 ) , and Lviv ( 514 ) .
At the same time , the fewest cases were reported in Luhansk ( 60 ) and Kirovohrad ( 116 ) regions .
Since the onset of the pandemic , 7,196 people have died from complications , including 155 over the past 24 hours .
Most fatalities in the past day were reported in Kyiv ( 23 ) and Kyiv region ( 19 ) .
The record holders for recovery are Zhytomyr ( 340 ) , Dnipropetrovsk ( 327 ) , Odesa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 301 ) regions .
There are now 221,357 COVID-19 patients undergoing treatment in Ukraine .
• Health official tells of anti-epidemic measures at polling stations • Convalescing COVID-19 patients now being discharged from hospitals before full recovery • Health ministry opposes idea of another strict lockdown across Ukraine

Since the onset of the pandemic, 7,196 people have died from complications, including 155 over the past 24 hours.
As of 9:00 on October 31, Ukraine reported 8,752 new COVID-19 cases, the highest number since pandemic-start.
Yesterday, it was 8,312 new cases, according to the interactive map compiled by the National Security and Defense Council.
In total, 387,481 people got infected across the country, while 158,928 recovered (3,902 on October 30).
Видео дня
Read alsoAnother mayor in Ukraine dies of COVID-19Most new cases were recorded in Kyiv (781), Donetsk (749), Kharkiv (622), and Lviv (514).
At the same time, the fewest cases were reported in Luhansk (60) and Kirovohrad (116) regions.
Since the onset of the pandemic, 7,196 people have died from complications, including 155 over the past 24 hours.
Most fatalities in the past day were reported in Kyiv (23) and Kyiv region (19).
The record holders for recovery are Zhytomyr (340), Dnipropetrovsk (327), Odesa (323), and Ternopil (301) regions.
There are now 221,357 COVID-19 patients undergoing treatment in Ukraine.
COVID-19 in Ukraine: Other reports


unian--2020-10-31--Deadly road accident on Kyiv's Maidan: Two dead, three injured

Two people have been killed and three have been injured in a road accident on Kyiv 's Maidan Nezalezhnosti ( Independence Square ) when a Land Rover rammed into a crowd on October 30 .
The driver was notified of charges as he violated road safety rules , the Kyiv City Prosecutor 's Office said on Facebook .
`` Upon agreement with the Kyiv City Prosecutor 's Office , the 66-year-old driver of a foreign-made car involved in a large-scale fatal traffic accident in the center of Kyiv has been notified of charges .
His actions are being investigated under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Criminal Code of Ukraine , '' the message says .
The man was detained ; he is in the hospital under guard .
His preventive measure of restriction will be chosen .
Among the injured , there is a five-month-old baby , who was with his parents in a car rammed by the Land Rover .
All victims were hospitalized .
According to the latest data , their condition is satisfactory .
• The accident occurred at about 16:00 on October 30 .
The Land Rover driver drove onto Independence Square and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then moved onto the roadway , where it hit at least four cars before stopping .
• As a result of the incident , two people were killed and three were injured .
• The driver is said to have lost consciousness , according to the media outlet Obozrevatel .
He reportedly underwent heart surgery not long prior to the accident .
• None According to vesti.ua , the suspect is Yuriy Nazarenko , born in 1954 .
He lives in Kyiv 's Pechersky district .
He had worked for five years for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior positions .
He had worked since 2007 as the chief of staff at the Commission ; in 2009 , he became a member of the Commission .
Nazarenko was in charge of information technology , he was building the securities regulator 's IT infrastructure .
Nazarenko also served as chairman of the board of the Agency for the Development of Infrastructure of the Stock Market of Ukraine and coordinated the work of companies incorporated in the Commission and issues of their budgeting .
It is known from open sources that in 2014 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lustration campaign .

The driver is facing criminal charges.
Two people have been killed and three have been injured in a road accident on Kyiv's Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) when a Land Rover rammed into a crowd on October 30.
The driver was notified of charges as he violated road safety rules, the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office said on Facebook.
"Upon agreement with the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office, the 66-year-old driver of a foreign-made car involved in a large-scale fatal traffic accident in the center of Kyiv has been notified of charges. His actions are being investigated under Part 3 of Article 286 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine," the message says.
The man was detained; he is in the hospital under guard. His preventive measure of restriction will be chosen.
Among the injured, there is a five-month-old baby, who was with his parents in a car rammed by the Land Rover. All victims were hospitalized. According to the latest data, their condition is satisfactory.
Road accident on the Maidan: Facts


unian--2020-10-31--Venice Commission, GRECO presidents concerned about Zelensky's bill to sack all Constitutional Court

Venice Commission, GRECO presidents concerned about Zelensky's bill to sack all Constitutional Court judges

An effective fight against corruption and respect for judicial independence and the Rule of Law have to go hand-in-hand , officials note .
President of the Council of Europe 's European Commission for Democracy through Law ( Venice Commission ) Gianni Buquicchio and President of the Group of States against Corruption ( CRECO ) Marin Mrčela have addressed Verkhovna Rada Chairman Dmytro Razumkov , speaking up against the draft Law `` on renewal of public confidence in constitutional judiciary , '' which President Volodymyr Zelensky has tabled in Parliament .
An effective fight against corruption and respect for judicial independence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go hand-in-hand , the senior officials noted in a letter , addressing the issue of the legislative initiative that came against the background of the recent ruling by the Constitutional Court relating to Ukraine 's anti-corruption framework .
Ukraine anti-corruption efforts , the officials say , need to be continued and stepped up , `` in line with the country ’ s Constitution and international obligations and , notably , the recommendations by the Council of Europe ’ s Group of States against Corruption ( GRECO ) . ''
GRECO recommendations need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delay . ''
They are mostly about the effective implementation of the reforms passed .
`` In this context , the independence and impartiality of anti-corruption institutions must be ensured not only in law , but also in practice , '' the officials wrote .
The Venice Commission also insists on the importance of the fight against corruption in Ukraine , notably in the judiciary .
`` The Constitutional Court plays an essential role as gatekeeper of the Constitution and its values and as the arbiter of separation of powers , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they `` totally agree on the importance of ensuring public confidence in the Constitutional Court , '' adding that the confidence in the other state institutions `` is equally important . ''
Read alsoHead of EU Delegation Maasikas : Trust in anti-corruption agencies needs to be restored fast '' Confidence does not imply lack of independence , on the contrary : the Constitutional Court may only enjoy the trust of the other state institutions and of the public if it is truly independent .
Trust needs to be earned .
But it can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respects the constitution and the Rule of Law , '' reads the letter .
They urged the Parliament Speaker `` to consider the adverse , profound and long-term implications for your country of a possible rushed decision to dismiss the constitutional justices '' and encouraged him `` to explore possible alternative ways of ensuring that the fight against corruption in line with international standards remains a priority for your country . ''
On October 27 , the Constitutional Court ruled on a motion filed by 47 legislators to repeal Article 366-1 of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liability for inaccurate asset declaration by government officials .
The Constitutional Court also recognized the provisions of laws on the verification of officials ' e-declarations as unconstitutional and deprived the National Agency on Corruption Prevention ( NACP ) of the authority to check asset declarations and identify conflicts of interest .
The Constitutional Court , by its decision , blocked the NACP 's access to the state registers necessary for conducting special checks on declarations of candidates nominated for top positions in the government .
Without such vetting , no head of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On October 28 , the NACP closed access to the State E-Declarations Register .
On October 28 , the Constitutional Court published the text of the respective decision adopted by its Grand Chamber , composed of 15 judges .
The National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine ( NABU ) said that pursuant to the Constitutional Court 's decision , all cases of inaccurate declaration of assets would be closed , and government officials convicted of abuse would thus evade liability .
On October 29 , President Volodymyr Zelensky gave instructions at a meeting of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately table a bill in parliament that provides for the restoration of the integrity of legal proceedings in the Constitutional Court .

An effective fight against corruption and respect for judicial independence and the Rule of Law have to go hand-in-hand, officials note.
President of the Council of Europe's European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) Gianni Buquicchio and President of the Group of States against Corruption (CRECO) Marin Mrčela have addressed Verkhovna Rada Chairman Dmytro Razumkov, speaking up against the draft Law "on renewal of public confidence in constitutional judiciary," which President Volodymyr Zelensky has tabled in Parliament.
An effective fight against corruption and respect for judicial independence and the Rule of Law have to go hand-in-hand, the senior officials noted in a letter, addressing the issue of the legislative initiative that came against the background of the recent ruling by the Constitutional Court relating to Ukraine's anti-corruption framework.
"There can be no effective fight against corruption without an independent judiciary and respect for the Rule of Law. Equally, there can be no independent judiciary and respect for the Rule of Law when corruption is pervasive," the letter reads.
Ukraine anti-corruption efforts, the officials say, need to be continued and stepped up, "in line with the country’s Constitution and international obligations and, notably, the recommendations by the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO)."
GRECO recommendations need to be "fully and effectively implemented without delay." They are mostly about the effective implementation of the reforms passed.
"In this context, the independence and impartiality of anti-corruption institutions must be ensured not only in law, but also in practice," the officials wrote.
The Venice Commission also insists on the importance of the fight against corruption in Ukraine, notably in the judiciary.
"The Constitutional Court plays an essential role as gatekeeper of the Constitution and its values and as the arbiter of separation of powers," the letter reads.
The two officials say they "totally agree on the importance of ensuring public confidence in the Constitutional Court," adding that the confidence in the other state institutions "is equally important."
Read alsoHead of EU Delegation Maasikas: Trust in anti-corruption agencies needs to be restored fast"Confidence does not imply lack of independence, on the contrary: the Constitutional Court may only enjoy the trust of the other state institutions and of the public if it is truly independent. Trust needs to be earned. But it can only be earned within a system which respects the constitution and the Rule of Law," reads the letter.
"Terminating the mandate of the judges is in blatant breach of the Constitution and of the fundamental principle of separation of powers. Violating the Constitution, even if for an arguably good cause, cannot lead to a culture of constitutionalism and respect for the rule of law, which the fight against corruption pursues," the officials wrote.
They urged the Parliament Speaker "to consider the adverse, profound and long-term implications for your country of a possible rushed decision to dismiss the constitutional justices" and encouraged him "to explore possible alternative ways of ensuring that the fight against corruption in line with international standards remains a priority for your country."
Constitutional Court's controversial decision on illegal enrichment: Facts
On October 27, the Constitutional Court ruled on a motion filed by 47 legislators to repeal Article 366-1 of the Criminal Code, which provides for criminal liability for inaccurate asset declaration by government officials.
The Constitutional Court also recognized the provisions of laws on the verification of officials' e-declarations as unconstitutional and deprived the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) of the authority to check asset declarations and identify conflicts of interest.
The Constitutional Court, by its decision, blocked the NACP's access to the state registers necessary for conducting special checks on declarations of candidates nominated for top positions in the government. Without such vetting, no head of a government agency could be appointed officially.
On October 28, the NACP closed access to the State E-Declarations Register.
On October 28, the Constitutional Court published the text of the respective decision adopted by its Grand Chamber, composed of 15 judges.
The National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) said that pursuant to the Constitutional Court's decision, all cases of inaccurate declaration of assets would be closed, and government officials convicted of abuse would thus evade liability.
On October 29, President Volodymyr Zelensky gave instructions at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council to immediately table a bill in parliament that provides for the restoration of the integrity of legal proceedings in the Constitutional Court.


unian--2020-10-31--Priest wounded in Lyon shooting

Priest wounded in Lyon shooting

In the French city of Lyon , an unidentified attacker opened fire outside a local Greek Orthodox church on October 31 .
A priest was wounded in the attack , TSN.ua reports .
The shooter has fled the scene , according to LeProgres .
`` At the site of the shooting , law enforcement are now working , having cordoned off the perimeter .
Local residents are advised to avoid the site , '' the report says .
`` The attacker allegedly shot the priest twice , in the stomach , as the latter was closing the church .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously injured , '' the report emphasizes .
Police sources told reporters that the suspect had fled the scene .
This is the second violent incident reported near a church in France this week after three were killed by a knife-wielding attacker in Nice .
French President Emmanuel Macron called the killings an `` Islamist terrorist attack '' and deployed thousands of extra soldiers to protect public sites , including places of worship , the BBC reports .
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said he would set up an emergency response team in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent attacks come against the background of heated tensions following the killing of a history teacher by his Muslim student who was offended by controversial drawings of Prophet Muhammad the teacher had shown in class .
The French government 's attempt to crack down on what Mr Macron described as `` Islamist separatism '' has angered Turkey and other countries .
Read alsoWoman beheaded in knife attack at French church ( Photo , video ) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was among those calling for a boycott of French goods .
Things got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeared in the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo .

The perpetrator remains at large.
In the French city of Lyon, an unidentified attacker opened fire outside a local Greek Orthodox church on October 31.
A priest was wounded in the attack, TSN.ua reports.
The shooter has fled the scene, according to LeProgres.
Видео дня
"At the site of the shooting, law enforcement are now working, having cordoned off the perimeter. Local residents are advised to avoid the site," the report says.
"The attacker allegedly shot the priest twice, in the stomach, as the latter was closing the church. The French police say that the victim was seriously injured," the report emphasizes.
Police sources told reporters that the suspect had fled the scene.
This is the second violent incident reported near a church in France this week after three were killed by a knife-wielding attacker in Nice.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the killings an "Islamist terrorist attack" and deployed thousands of extra soldiers to protect public sites, including places of worship, the BBC reports.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said he would set up an emergency response team in co-ordination with President Emmanuel Macron.
#BREAKING: Priest shot and killed inside Greek Orthodox Church in Lyon, France. Suspect is on the run. pic.twitter.com/2kCoxp2Ka2 — UA News (@UrgentAlertNews) October 31, 2020
The recent attacks come against the background of heated tensions following the killing of a history teacher by his Muslim student who was offended by controversial drawings of Prophet Muhammad the teacher had shown in class.
The French government's attempt to crack down on what Mr Macron described as "Islamist separatism" has angered Turkey and other countries.
Read alsoWoman beheaded in knife attack at French church (Photo, video)Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was among those calling for a boycott of French goods.
Things got worse after a cartoon on President Erdogan appeared in the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.