Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a law providing for exams in the basics of the Constitution, history of Ukraine and the level of proficiency in the state language as a condition for obtaining Ukrainian citizenship.
As noted in the card of the corresponding bill No. 7606, posted on the website of the Verkhovna Rada, the document was returned to the parliament with the signature of the head of state on 21 April.
Most of the provisions of the law come into force six months after the date of its publication in the parliamentary newspaper “Holos Ukrainy”.
The document stipulates that the conditions for admission of foreigners/citizens without citizenship to Ukrainian citizenship include knowledge of the basics of the Constitution and history of Ukraine, as well as knowledge of the state language and compulsory exams in these subjects.
According to the proposed amendment to the law, a foreigner/citizen without citizenship who wishes to acquire Ukrainian citizenship shall submit in writing a statement to the effect that in the event of acquiring Ukrainian citizenship, he/she will be obliged to pass examinations in the basics of the Constitution of Ukraine, the history of the country, the level of command of the state language and, within two years, present documents on passing such examinations.
At the same time, the law proposes to introduce special conditions for acquiring citizenship for persons who have rendered outstanding service to Ukraine, who are of state interest to Ukraine, who serve under contract in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including those awarded with state awards, or who have received a temporary residence permit. Such persons will be obliged within two years from the moment of acceptance of Ukrainian citizenship to pass exams on the basics of the Constitution and history of Ukraine and on the level of state language proficiency.
The document provides that the failure to pass the exams is the basis for the loss of citizenship.
As reported, the bill was initiated by the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal. The document was registered in the Verkhovna Rada on July 28, 2022. The Rada passed the bill in the first reading on October 18, and as a whole on March 21.
International European University held an international scientific conference: ‘25th Anniversary of the Constitution of Ukraine: National Tradition and European Standards of Constitutionalism’, involving honored guests, public officials, students, Ph.D. students, young scientists, lawyers and political strategists.
Due to the global epidemiological situation, International European University developed the plan of actions and took care of all participants. At the entrance of the university, our partners, medical professionals from New diagnostics laboratory, carried out PCR testing and provided participants with face masks.
The conference was opened by Alla Navolokina, a co-founder and vice-rector for educational and scientific work and international relations of International European University. Mrs. Alla stressed the importance of the event, as the Constitution of Ukraine secured the right to education. According to the Constitution, the social and cultural right to education provides everyone in Ukraine with the possibility to acquire knowledge, abilities, skills and professional training based on mutual cooperation of various entities of the education sector.
International European University respects the Constitution Day of Ukraine and complies with the Fundamental Law of Ukraine to secure the rights and freedoms of each citizen in this state.
Honored guests of the conference included:
Anatolii Tolstoukhov
Ukrainian public official, policymaker and scientist, first rank civil servant, Ph.D., academician at the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine. Chair of the Council for International European University Development.
Franz-Volodymyr von Habsburg-Lothringen
Descendant of Emperor Franz Joseph. President of International European University.
Mokhammad Faradzhallakh
Editor-in-chief of “Ukraine in Arabic”
Kateryna Odarchenko
Head of National Platform political party, President of the Institute for Democracy and Development “PolitA”, partner of SIC Group Ukraine.
Tamara Marusyk
Vice-rector for research, education and instruction of Chernivtsi National University.
Sam Noshadha
Vice-rector for international relations, responsible for prevention and detection of corruption, of Academy of Labour, Social Relations and Tourism. Judge of the International Commercial Arbitration Court. He is recognized by the best lawyers in Ukrainian commercial law.
Bohdan Kushnir
Attorney, director of Argument Law Firm, founder of International Human Rights Association “National Lawyer”.
Sadaqat Hussain
Representative of foreign students at International European University.
Natalia Kozaeva
Head of the Notary Chamber of Ukraine in Kyiv, member of the Council of National Pedagogical Dragomanov University.
Volodymyr Omelchenko
Director of energy and infrastructure programs at Razumkov Centre.
The conference continued in the format of panel sessions where participants, students and invited guests discussed relevant issues of the development of Ukrainian legal science and practice.
Quite symbolic is the fact that this year, Ukrainians celebrate two significant dates: 25th Anniversary of the Constitution of Ukraine and 30th Anniversary of the declaration of Ukrainian independence.
It is symbolic for International European University because, on the eve of these dates, one has founded the university and started its operations as an institution developing each citizen of the new world order.
To sum up, the conference showed the significance of the dialogue, scientific comprehension and educational issues for both the university community and public officials and society.
Thus, in regard to this great Ukrainian holiday, we wish us to live in the constitutional state that respects the rights and fulfils its obligations, as well as features mutual respect and equality. The state respected and appreciated on the global stage. In the state called Ukraine!
Live broadcasting of the conference is available here.
ALLA NAVOLOKINA, CONFERENCE, CONSTITUTION, INTERNATIONAL EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY
The Verkhovna Rada will hold a ceremonial meeting of parliament on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of Ukraine, the website of the parliament reports.
This meeting will be held at 11:00 on June 28 in accordance with the order of the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine No. 150 dated June 15, 2021 and pursuant to the resolution of the Parliament No. 971-IX dated November 4, 2020 “On the ceremonial meeting of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of Ukraine,” the announcement reads.
Previously International European University ORGANIZED SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF UKRAINIAN CONSTITUTION.
Conference topic:
“The 25th anniversary of the Constitution of Ukraine: the national tradition and European standards of constitutionalism.”
Purpose:
• Bringing Ukraine closer to the best European standards of the rule of law and protection of human rights and freedoms is one of the obligations undertaken by Ukraine when joining the Council of Europe, as well as one of the requirements for joining the EU.
• Study and discussion of new scientific and practical research topics in various fields of legal science. Exchange of views on their application and implementation.
• Exchange of experience in administration of law in various branches of law.
Thematic areas of the conference:
1. Scientific and practical paradigm of constitutionalization of the European integration process.
2. Social and legal standards and democratic values in the modern Constitution of Ukraine.
3. The constitutional process in the context of Ukraine’s European integration.
4. Constitutional foundations of the economic system of Ukraine.
5. Constitutional dialogue: availability and quality of higher education.
6. The role of the Constitution of Ukraine in the formation of the health care system in Ukraine.
7. Constitutional reform of the judicial and law enforcement agencies of Ukraine.
8. Sociological analysis of topical problems of a modern society.
The collection of conference materials is to be posted on the official website: https://ieu.edu.ua/
The working language of the conference: Ukrainian, Russian, English.
CONFERENCE, CONSTITUTION, INTERNATIONAL EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY, НАВОЛОКІНА
On June 28, 1996, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the basic law – the first Constitution of the newest Ukrainian state.
In a difficult time for our state, as never before, we understand the importance of the fundamental law and comprehend responsibility for each step we take on the way to implementing its key principles.
The Constitution has a fundamental character, establishes the foundations of the socio-economic system of the state, the national-territorial structure, the organization and system of state power and local self-governance, defines the fundamental rights, freedoms, duties of a person and citizen, creates political and legal conditions for the formation of structures of a civil society.
The exceptional nature of the Constitution as a legal document, first of all, lies in the fact that in its best historical examples, it is not so much an act of the state as of a civil society.
International European University not only confidently opens the doors to the future, and guarantees high-quality education according to European standards, but takes an active position in the scientific world, organizing various scientific programs to highlight topical issues. For this purpose, we are holding a scientific and practical conference dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Constitution of Ukraine.
Conference topic:
“The 25th anniversary of the Constitution of Ukraine: the national tradition and European standards of constitutionalism.”
Purpose:
• Bringing Ukraine closer to the best European standards of the rule of law and protection of human rights and freedoms is one of the obligations undertaken by Ukraine when joining the Council of Europe, as well as one of the requirements for joining the EU.
• Study and discussion of new scientific and practical research topics in various fields of legal science. Exchange of views on their application and implementation.
• Exchange of experience in administration of law in various branches of law.
Thematic areas of the conference:
1. Scientific and practical paradigm of constitutionalization of the European integration process.
2. Social and legal standards and democratic values in the modern Constitution of Ukraine.
3. The constitutional process in the context of Ukraine’s European integration.
4. Constitutional foundations of the economic system of Ukraine.
5. Constitutional dialogue: availability and quality of higher education.
6. The role of the Constitution of Ukraine in the formation of the health care system in Ukraine.
7. Constitutional reform of the judicial and law enforcement agencies of Ukraine.
8. Sociological analysis of topical problems of a modern society.
Start of the conference:
June 22, 2021
09:00 – 10:30 – registration of participants and media
Location:
In the premises of the Institute of Mathematical Machines and Systems Problems of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 4th floor, assembly hall, 42 Akademika Hlushkova Avenue, Kyiv.
To participate in the conference, we ask you, by June 21, to send an application for participation and the abstracts of the report by e-mail.
The collection of conference materials is to be posted on the official website: https://ieu.edu.ua/
The working language of the conference: Ukrainian, Russian, English.
Organizer: International European University
Co-organizers:
• Regional center for provision of free legal assistance in Kyiv
• Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University
• Education and Science Department of Kyiv City State Administration
• Argument law firm
• National Lawyer international human rights association
• Association of Alumni of the Faculty of Law of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
Media partners:
• Lenta.UA
• Interfax-Ukraine
• PravdaTUT media group
• Expert Club
• Bagnet website
• Rupor website
• www.open4business.com.ua
For more information, contact:
+380636548430 Gariachun Veronika Oleksandrivna
Official website: www.ieu.edu.ua
CONFERENCE, CONSTITUTION, INTERNATIONAL EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY, НАВОЛОКІНА
Representative of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk has said that the most important and urgent changes to the Constitution of Ukraine must be made within coming year. “I think that the most important things should be made in the first year, because this first year we, first, have a lot of support from the people of Ukraine. Secondly, having the worked out mechanisms, we have the opportunity of passing them through the Verkhovna Rada. And, thirdly, we have the opportunity of monitoring how they achieved their goal,” he said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
Stefanchuk said that the analysis of all recent changes to the Constitution showed that about 20 or even more articles do not have a definitive version. “Today we have come to a situation where we do not have the only true legally interpreted text of the Constitution. This is the result of not thoughtful, not verified and not planned work of the Verkhovna Rada, which today has led to the fact that the state, celebrating Constitution Day, has no single unified text of the Constitution,” he said.
The presidential representative in the Rada also considers it wrong that any reform of the Constitution concerned a change in public authorities, but a question of guarantees of human and civil rights had no standing in the country.
Stefanchuk said that it is necessary to conduct a “functional audit of the state” and clearly define which institution is responsible for what.
The representative of Zelensky in parliament said that the possibility of adopting a new Constitution is still a matter of discussion, and there are different approaches.
A small percentage of Ukrainians are familiar with the contents of the Constitution of Ukraine, according to a survey conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation together with the sociological service of the Razumkov Center for the Center for Political and Legal Reforms. According to the release published on Thursday, almost half of the population (47%) has not read the text of the Constitution and about a third (32%) read only certain sections of it. Only 11% of the population is familiar with all sections. Of those who are acquainted with the contents of the Constitution, half did it in order to know their rights.
Almost half of the respondents (46%) know that, according to the Constitution, the people of Ukraine are the bearers of sovereignty and the source of power in the country, while 34% believe that the president is such a subject, with 8% found it difficult to answer this question.
“The majority of respondents (58%) view the Constitution as a means of securing human rights and freedoms, and at the same time only 17% of respondents believe that it should establish responsibilities for a citizen,” organizers of the survey said.
Among the majority of respondents, the conviction remains that the highest state bodies and officials constantly (38%) or often (43%) violate the Constitution. Among the reasons for the violation of the Constitution, most often mentioned was the neglect of laws and the right of officials (59%).
Almost two thirds of respondents (60%) are convinced that violation of the Constitution is unacceptable under any conditions and only 11% admit that the authority can violate the Basic Law if it contributes to faster decisions that will benefit society. At the same time, 18.5% believe officials can violate the Constitution if the goal is to benefit society.
“In relation to violations of the Constitution, Donbas region is highlighted, where 31% of respondents believe violating the Constitution is warranted if doing so benefits the public interest,” survey organizers said.
More than two thirds of those polled (67%) said the Constitution needs to be changed, with 35% believing this a topical issue that needs to be addressed immediately. Some 32% are sure that such changes are necessary, but only after the situation has stabilized in the country. Only 12% do not see the need to change the Constitution, while 20% don’t have an opinion.
The prevailing view is that an independent body including representatives of various branches of government and independent experts should propose changes to the Constitution. This position was supported by 37% of respondents. Only 18% believe the task should be entrusted to a special agency under the president, with 17% saying a special parliamentary commission should propose the changes. Only 13% said they would entrust the task to scientists and expert organizations of civil society.
If the new Constitution is adopted, the citizens consider the All-Ukrainian referendum as the best way to approve it (41%). Some 24% are ready to entrust this matter to a specially selected body and 19% to parliament.
More than half of citizens (56%) do not trust the Constitutional Court, while 22% of respondents trust the Constitutional Court.
