Poroshenko intends to abolish parliamentary immunity, restrict judge immunity

Photo: Reuters

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, during a meeting with Verkhovna Rada factions on Friday, announced his intention to abolish parliamentary immunity and to limit the immunity of judges.

"I would like to draw attention to an old debt, which our coalition agreement foresaw. That's why I initiated and drafted a bill that envisages the complete cancelation of deputy [parliamentary] immunity," the president said.

The head of state stressed that the initiative was supported by society. "This is what the majority of us promised during the elections. As president, and as the guarantor of the Constitution, I guarantee saving democracy in the state – no prosecutions according to political motives irrespective of whether the political activist is in power or in opposition," Poroshenko stressed.

The president also proposed to restrict the immunity of judges. He said that the immunity of judges must meet the European standards. He also said that European institutions had stressed many times that Ukraine should guarantee the protection of judges fulfilling judicial functions, except for cases when deliberately unjust verdicts are passed or when judges had violated their oaths.

Source: Interfax-Ukraine