A real hitfest burst out on Feb.12 in the halls of Verkhovna Rada. Yegor Sobolev of Samopomich and Vadym Ivchenko of the Batkivschina parties -- ostensibly allies in the ruling coalition -- had a clash over draft law #1159, co-authored by Ivchenko. The project is aimed at transferring land administration rights from state land agency, Derzhkomzem, to local authorities.
Although Sobolev’s
committee on anti-corruption has previously declared the draft law corrupt,
Ivchenko called MPs for voting in favor nevertheless. His speech triggered Sobolev’s
indignation.
“Today he dared to try
convincing Samopomich to vote for such a carve-up. This is how the fight against
corruption in the truest sense of the word happened.” Sobolev wrote on
Facebook on Feb.12. According to him, the committee’s verdict was followed by some
sponsored articles in press accusing Sobolev and his colleages of lobbying Derzhkomzem.
“We are in favor of granting
more power to local communities but this law may not be adopted before the land
cadastre is formed and new local elections take place. Former Party of Regions
members currently in place there will eagerly embezzle state land,” Sobolev
wrote.
Ivchenko is convinced the
draft law restores the constitutional norms of common property management by
local councils. He also claims to have been invited to Samopomich fraction
meeting for giving explanations to his project.
“If a person can’t explain
his view and admit that he is lobbying Derzhkomzem but starts a fight with his
colleague instead, this is, firstly, undemocratic and, secondly, this is the
first time I’ve heard from my colleagues that such things are possible inside the
coalition,” Ivchenko hurried to comment via Rada tv channel. “His
(Sobolev’s) actions showed that he is a “rubbish lustrator” who cannot
explain why some laws are corrupt and others are not and pours dirt on his
fellow MPs instead.”
Verkhovna Rada Speaker
Volodymyr Groysman requested the committee in charge of parliamentary
procedures to sanction the fighters. The committee suggested excluding Sobolev
and Ivchenko from parliamentary sessions for five days.
Members of parliament Yegor Sobolev and Vadym Ivchenko fight in the halls of Ukrainian Parliament (Radio Svoboda)
