Ukrainian MPs may be denied foreign travel without government-approved ‘talking points’
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Starting from 2024, travel requests for Ukrainian MPs might not be considered unless they receive necessary “talking points” from the Foreign Ministry before their departure for official statements and comments, Ukrainian news outlet Liga.net reported on Jan. 3.
The order was signed by Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, at the end of December 2023, the publication reported.
An MP’s application may be rejected if, in the past, they violated the stay period during an official trip, changed countries without authorization, visited other countries, or failed to submit a report upon return, Liga.net writes.
The document also includes a list of individuals who must approve the MPs travel request before it is forwarded to Stefanchuk. The list includes:
· Committee chair of the Rada to which the MP belongs
· Faction leader
· Head of the MP group
· Head of the relevant Rada delegation
· First deputy or deputy speaker of parliament
Currently, Parliament does not impose any sanctions on MPs who do not comply with these rules, and they can lose their mandate only if found guilty in a criminal case.
Former Ukrainian President and sitting MP Petro Poroshenko was not permitted to leave the country because he planned to meet with Hungarian PM Viktor Orban, a government source told NV on Dec. 1.
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