The Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) may consider a bill on the cancelation of deputies' immunity from prosecution in July this year.
Leader of the Our Ukraine-People’s Self Defense faction Mykola Martynenko at a sitting of the conciliation council on Monday raised the topic of the consideration of the bill on the cancellation of immunity from prosecution of deputies.
At the same time, the MP said the bill proposed by the pro-government majority foresees "not the cancelation of a deputy’s immunity from prosecution, but restrictions on a deputy’s immunity from prosecution."
According to Martynenko, this bill does not envisage the cancellation of the immunity from prosecution of the president and judges. Besides, the procedure of voting was violated.Martynenko said that the opposition factions are collecting 150 signatures under their bill to cancel the immunity from prosecution of not just deputies, but also the president and judges.
In turn, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn said that the legal policy committee had elaborated a corresponding draft resolution concerning the schedule of the consideration of the given bill. However, parliament failed to consider this bill during last plenary week.Lytvyn reported that the draft resolution offers to introduce proposals and amendments to the bill by June 7.
At the same time, Lytvyn said 150 signatures of MPs have to be collected for each proposal and amendment. Then the profile committee by June 22 will process all proposals and amendments and will submit the improved document to MPs by July 4.
"And on July 5 the [bill] can be submitted for consideration at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine," the parliamentary speaker said.He added that if another bill is registered, the parliament could consider it, as long as it is prepared in accordance with the established procedure." That’s why I asked the committee to gather one more time and take a decision. And on Thursday or on the day after, we’ll choose to consider this issue and stop these political games," Lytvyn said.
