The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has approved a resolution that ensures the continuity of the activities of representative bodies of local self-government under martial law. The relevant document No. 14031 was supported by 308 members of parliament during the plenary session.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Support for the Legitimacy of Local Councils During Wartime
The resolution confirms that even after the expiration of the five-year term of office, local councils remain legitimate and continue to perform their functions. This decision is aimed at preventing attempts to question the activities of local self-government bodies during the war, especially from individuals and entities associated with the aggressor state.
“This resolution is an obvious proposition. It is a political act by the Council in support of the fact that all local self-government remains functional and legitimate after the expiration of five years of authority… We must not allow anyone, including those funded by the aggressor state, to question the activities of local councils during martial law. Moreover, we have already had similar precedents when Russian propaganda attempted to question the legitimacy of the president,” said one of the authors of the resolution, MP Vitaliy Bezgin from the Servant of the People faction, from the podium of the Verkhovna Rada.
Reasons for Extending Powers
The document emphasizes that the responsibility for the inability to organize the preparation and conduct of local elections in Ukraine according to democratic standards lies with the aggressor state – the Russian Federation. Under the conditions of martial law, which has been in effect since February 24, 2022, the holding of elections is prohibited.
Currently, about 20% of Ukraine’s territory is temporarily occupied by Russia, millions of citizens have become internally displaced persons, and there is an ongoing threat of missile strikes across the country.
The last local elections in Ukraine were held in October 2020. Since then, local self-government bodies have continued to operate, ensuring the viability of communities even in the extremely challenging conditions of war.