* Who will prescribe the right course of treatment?
On June 1 the Verkhovna Rada heard progress reports from law enforcement brass hats, concerning the investigations into the Mukacheve mayoral elections. According to tradition, the deliberations took the entire working day, and by tradition, several dozen important bills remained unheard, among them the bills on changes to the Laws of Ukraine “On the Numerical Strength of the Armed Forces of Ukraine” and “On the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” which involve a transfer from a four-to a three-armed-service structure, as well as the bill “On the Reform of the Armed Forces.”
First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Mykhailo Korniyenko, Deputy General Prosecutor Mykola Holomsha, and Deputy Head of the SBU Ihor Drizhchany reported on the Mukacheve issue. The Verkhovna Rada further heard Oleksandr Zinchenko, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Parliamentary Commission, and Parliamentary Ombudswoman Nina Karpachova. The issue was exacerbated by Mukacheve Mayor Ernest Nuser’s recent announcement about his resignation, linked to what he described as threats against him.
According to Mykhailo Korniyenko, the head of the Mukacheve city militia directorate was relieved of his post, while the deputy head of the local Interior Ministry department, chief of the social security militia force, and another deputy head of the regional militia department were reprimanded. Mykola Holomsha reported on the status of criminal cases involving charges of hooliganism and theft of valuable documents, which the local prosecutor’s office has launched. During the investigations of the latter charge, prosecutors carried out more than 2,000 criminal investigation proceedings, questioned more than 1,000 individuals, launched 12 forensic enquiries, impounded 959 documents, recreated the circumstances surrounding the events, and subpoenaed 44 people’s deputies as witnesses, 15 of whom did not appear. Vice Speaker Oleksandr Zinchenko declared that the parliamentary commission’s preliminary findings, which were confirmed, are urgent, and added, “Mukacheve was a manifestation of that grave and dangerous disease that afflicts the entire Ukrainian political system, namely the fusion of interests of those in power, an insolent bureaucracy, [corrupt] law enforcement agencies, and the underworld, leading to the systematic violation of human rights and posing a genuine threat to fundamental constitutional principles.” Nina Karpachova read Mukacheve Militia Patrol Sergeant Mykhailo Zhumela’s statement from the Verkhovna Rada rostrum, to the effect that he was ordered by the deputy head of the city militia department to leave the City Council premises, where the ballots were stored, and that his colleagues were also instructed to leave their posts on the premises, including the gate. Mykhailo Korniyenko countered by stating that law enforcement agencies were aware of this and that the matter was being investigated.
As in previous cases, the parliamentary hearings were accompanied by emotional outbursts from the opposition. The latter was particularly outraged by the absence of General Prosecutor Hennady Vasyliev and other key law enforcement figures. Our Ukraine MPs proposed a vote of no confidence, claiming that the general prosecutor was sabotaging the criminal investigations in Mukacheve. After the rostrum was besieged by OU deputies and several intermissions were announced, in the second half of the session day the MPs seemed to have agreed on a resolution demanding the general prosecutor’s resignation, which resolution would be put to the vote after being examined by a special parliamentary committee. However, the resolution was supported only by four opposition factions and a few majority deputies, totaling 206 votes, less than the number required under the Verkhovna Rada’s standing orders.
