Depriving traitors of state awards: Rada adopts draft law as a basis

In the first reading, the Verkhovna Rada adopted as a basis the draft law of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy on deprivation of state awards for popularization or propaganda of the Russian Federation or other illegal actions against Ukraine. This was reported by UNN with reference to MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak and the bill card No. 11410.

Details

"The Rada adopted as a basis draft law No. 11410 on deprivation of state awards to traitors of Ukraine. "There were 341 votes in favor in the first reading," Zheleznyak said.

According to the draft law, it is proposed to deprive of state awards persons who popularize or promote the aggressor state and its authorities, representatives of the aggressor state authorities and their actions that create a positive image of the aggressor state, justify or recognize the occupation of the territory of Ukraine.

According to the current legislation, it is currently possible to deprive state awards only if the recipient is convicted of a serious crime.

Instead, Zelenskyy proposes that deprivation of state awards can occur not only by a court verdict, but also on the basis of a decision of the National Security and Defense Council to apply special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions), enacted by a presidential decree.

"A person deprived of state awards loses the right to all rights and privileges provided for persons awarded state awards of Ukraine. State awards and relevant award documents belonging to a person who has been deprived of state awards shall be returned within 30 days to a permanent subsidiary body established by the President of Ukraine," the draft law says.

Addendum

Many associates of fugitive President Yanukovych, as well as politicians from banned pro-Russian parties, still hold state awards.

In particular, one of the leaders of the banned pro-Russian party OPFL, Yuriy Boyko, has the title of Hero of Ukraine, which was awarded to him back in 2004 by then-President Leonid Kuchma "for outstanding personal services to the Ukrainian state in the development of the fuel and energy complex, many years of selfless work.

Among others, Ilya Kiva (killed on December 6, 2023) received the Order of Danylo Halytskyi; Nestor Shufrich and Oleh Tsarev received the Order of Merit, 2nd class; Mykola Azarov, Oleksandr Yefremov, and Viktor Medvedchuk received the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise.

Recall

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the Verkhovna Rada to convene urgently in the near future to consider the defense legislative package, including issues related to, among other things, the settlement of the issue of trophy weapons, the citizenship of foreigners fighting in Ukrainian legions, and the deprivation of state awards to traitors.