Civil society begins with respect for the Constitution, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address to the nation on Constitution Day, a national holiday that is celebrated annually on June 28.
“A country that everyone respects begins with respect for everyone’s rights,” Zelensky said. “Let’s remember this every time we go to the subway without a mask, turn on the music at night, burn dry grass, cut down our own forest or drive an overloaded truck.”
In the address, Zelensky also noted that, according to the first article of the Constitution, Ukraine is a sovereign, independent, democratic, social and legal state.
“I think there is one more statement missing. Ukraine is incredibly beautiful and charming,” he said. “And when each of us finally understands that the best country is exactly where we were born, then each of us will cherish it with all their deeds and words.”
The Ukrainian parliament, or Verkhovna Rada, adopted the Constitution in 1996, five years after the country became independent following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The historic parliament session on June 28, 1996, lasted for over 24 hours until the lawmakers considered all the corrections.
The final version of the document determined Ukraine’s form of government, civil rights, the organization and functioning of state authorities and local governments.
Over the years, the law has been changed multiple times. One of the last changes to the law was approved in September 2019, when the parliament passed an amendment that lifted parliamentary immunity.
According to a poll conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation with the Razumkov Center a year ago, most Ukrainians haven’t ever read the Constitution.
Slightly more than 50% of Ukrainians don’t know that according to the Constitution, the only source of power in Ukraine is people. Meanwhile, 67% of Ukrainians believe that the Constitution needs to be changed.
