NEWS ITEM: Ukrainian lawmakers are getting more creative as they continue to break the Constitution and cast votes on behalf of absent colleagues. This so-called “piano voting” has been common practice for years. But lawmakers are now facing growing pressure from the public and media, who demand that each member of parliament vote in person. But some are getting more creative. Nestor Shufrych, a member of parliament from the ruling Party of Regions, has reportedly covered his and his neighbor’s voting buttons with a newspaper while pressing both buttons. Journalists of Chesno civic movement filmed him in parliament doing this on Jan. 11. Another trick used, filmed by Chesno, is when members of parliament press their own voting buttons, but then stand up to shield themselves from others while voting for absent neighbors.
