President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law on virtual assets, which refers this market to the regulation of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission and the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU). According to the Telegram channel of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, with the start of this law, the following changes will be introduced in Ukraine:
– foreign and Ukrainian crypto exchanges will work legally;
– banks will open accounts for crypto companies;
– Ukrainians will be able to protect their savings in virtual assets;
– the state will guarantee judicial protection of rights to virtual assets.
In addition, the National Securities and Stock Market Commission will formulate and implement a policy in the field of virtual assets; determine the procedure for the turnover of virtual assets; issue authorizations to VA service providers; exercise supervision and financial monitoring in this area.
According to the Ministry of Digital Development, this is another important step towards the de-shadowing of the crypto sector and the launch of a legal market for virtual assets in Ukraine. “Since the beginning of the war, crypto assets have become a powerful tool for attracting additional funding in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. During the three weeks of the war, the Crypto Fund of Ukraine raised more than $54 million in crypto assets. Today, the president has signed the law on virtual assets. We are launching a legal market for virtual assets in Ukraine and bringing the crypto sector out of the shadows,” Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov wrote on his Telegram channel.
The Verkhovna Rada has adopted, taking into account presidential amendments, the law on virtual assets, which refers this market to the regulation of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission and the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU). Head of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission Ruslan Magomedov noted that the president proposed to attribute this market to existing regulators, since the sources of covering the costs of creating a new body have not been determined.
“Therefore, the President proposes to refer the activities and regulation of the virtual assets market to the competence of the already existing financial regulators – the National Securities and Stock Market Commission and the National Bank of Ukraine,” Magomedov said, speaking from the rostrum of the parliament.
The law, subject to presidential amendments, classifies services related to the circulation of virtual assets as financial services. As noted by the main scientific and expert department of the Verkhovna Rada apparatus, the document, taking into account the presidential proposals, involves cooperation between the two regulators of such services, but it is not indicated by the provisions of which legislative act they will be guided in matters of cooperation and coordination in this area – this law or the law on financial services and state regulation of the financial services market.
The Verkhovna Rada at its meeting on Tuesday, with 302 votes, supported bill No.3504 on mediation at second reading. The bill defines the legal framework and procedure for mediation in Ukraine. In particular, the mediation procedure will be applied in any conflicts (disputes) arising in civil, family, labor, economic, administrative legal relations, as well as in criminal proceedings when drawing up agreements on reconciliation between the victim and the suspect, the accused, and other areas of public relations.According to the explanatory note to the document, individuals and legal entities can apply to a mediator for mediation both before going to court, the Arbitration Court, International Commercial Arbitration, and during judicial, arbitration or arbitration proceedings or during the execution of the decision of the listed courts.Mediation will be carried out by mutual agreement of the parties to the mediation in accordance with the principles of voluntariness, confidentiality, independence and neutrality, impartiality of the mediator.The status of a mediator can be obtained by any individual who has a higher education and has completed basic training in the are of mediation in Ukraine or abroad.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov signed a law on preventing and countering anti-Semitism in Ukraine.
As noted in the card of the relevant bill No. 5109, the speaker signed it on September 29 and handed it over to President Volodymyr Zelensky for signature.
The bill defines anti-Semitism, prohibits anti-Semitism and its manifestations, and provides for liability for violation of anti-Semitism legislation.
According to the document, manifestations of anti-Semitism are, in particular, the call, concealment or justification of killing or harming persons of Jewish origin, giving false information, hateful statements about them, denying the fact of the persecution and mass extermination of Jews during the Second World War (Holocaust), making, distribution of any materials containing anti-Semitic statements, as well as public use of materials, symbols and images of anti-Semitic content.
At the same time, the law includes deliberate damage, destruction or desecration of buildings, other structures belonging to persons of Jewish origin, Jewish communities and public Jewish organizations, as well as religious or religious buildings (houses), burial places of persons of Jewish origin, monuments, as and the public use of materials, symbols and images of anti-Semitic content.
At the same time, the law includes deliberate damage, destruction or desecration of buildings, other structures belonging to persons of Jewish origin, Jewish communities and public Jewish organizations, as well as religious or religious buildings (houses), burial places of persons of Jewish origin, monuments, memorial signs dedicated to Jews, based on anti-Semitism.
Persons guilty of violating the norms of this draft law will incur civil, administrative and criminal liability in accordance with the law, as well as compensation for material damage and moral harm caused as a result of anti-Semitism, its manifestations, will be carried out in the manner determined by the legislation of Ukraine.
This law will come into force the next day after its publication in the parliamentary newspaper Holos Ukrainy (Voice of Ukraine).
As reported, on September 22, the Verkhovna Rada adopted draft law No. 5109 at the second reading and in general.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted at second reading law on amendments to certain Laws of Ukraine concerning the enhancement of the activity of science parks (bill No. 4236), which, in particular, grants the right to universities and scientific institutions to create science parks without the consent of the Education Ministry.
The law was supported by 321 MPs with the required 226 votes.
The law also provides for preferential rental conditions for premises for science parks (UAH 1 per one square meter).
According to it, students, graduate students, researchers and employees of universities and research institutions should be involved in work in such parks.
At the same time, science parks can provide services such as research and development work, financial and economic support of investment (innovation) projects, as well as services for professional communication and harmonization of terminology, development and implementation of marketing strategies.
According to the Education Ministry, there are 36 scientific parks registered in Ukraine, the founders of which are budget institutions, including universities and research institutions.
During the discussion, parliamentarians said that current science parks are not an effective tool for innovation. In particular, due to the complex and lengthy process of creation, as well as the vaguely expressed legal status.
The adoption of a law simplifying the procedure for privatization and lease of state property will be a signal for investors, including international ones, Deputy Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Economic Development Roksolana Pidlasa (Servant of the People faction) said.
“This bill [No. 4572] will become a green light for investors, including international ones. And it will also contribute to the development of regions, because after its adoption, the budgets of communities will receive funds not only from the privatization of municipal enterprises, but also 10% of the funds received from the sale of state assets,” Pidlasa told Interfax-Ukraine.
She recalled that the Verkhovna Rada has already adopted the bill at the first reading and currently the Committee on Economic Development is preparing it for the second reading.
The MP stressed that “it is privatization that gives people the opportunity not to go strawberry-picking in Poland, but to have a decent job in Ukraine, in their community.” “Hundreds of enterprises and production sites that have been abandoned and forgotten for decades and would hardly ever resume work are bought by private investors and they turn them into modern enterprises where Ukrainians are working now,” Pidlasa said.
The MP recalled that over the past year and a half, the State Property Fund returned ten key assets under state control, including the United Mining and Chemical Company, PJSC Centrenergo and JSC Odesa Port-Side Plant.
As reported, the Verkhovna Rada on July 15 adopted at the first reading bill No. 4572 on amendments to the law on the State Property Fund of Ukraine and other legislative acts promoting investment attraction in the process of privatization and lease of state and municipal property.
