Main points
- The Verkhovna Rada was unable to approve the agenda due to a lack of votes, so no issues were considered.
- The reasons for the lack of votes were the deputies' business trips and the possible poisoning of several of them in the dining room.
The Verkhovna Rada did not consider any issues due to a lack of deputies / Collage by Channel 24 (Photo by Getty Images, Zheleznyak)
The Verkhovna Rada ended the plenary day without considering a single issue. There were not enough votes in the session hall even to approve the agenda, so the parliament did not adopt a single decision.
The next votes in the Rada are not tentatively scheduled until February 24. This was reported by People's Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak.
What happened to the deputies?
On Thursday, according to the MP, the Verkhovna Rada ended the plenary day without any results. The parliament was not even able to vote on the agenda, which disrupted the consideration of all issues.
In fact, the session day was closed without any decisions being made, and consideration of the draft laws was postponed. According to preliminary information, no votes are planned in parliament until February 24.
Unofficially, the reasons cited include the travel of some MPs, which resulted in a lack of votes in the hall. Parliamentary circles are also talking about the poisoning of several MPs in the dining room , which could have affected the turnout.
At the same time, important tax initiatives related to the requirements of the IMF and the European Union remained unconsidered. It is on the adoption of these laws that Ukraine's further receipt of international financing depends.
MP and Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech Yaroslav Yurchyshyn confirmed in a comment to Channel 24 that there is currently information about the deterioration of the well-being of MPs, mainly from the “Servant of the People” faction. According to unofficial data, this is about 15-30 people, but the number is being clarified.
The reason is still being investigated. The Office is already carrying out verification and response measures regarding this information.
– added Yurchyshyn.
In this regard, according to him, about 200-204 deputies were present at the meeting.
The situation was also commented on by the head of the press service of the Verkhovna Rada, Alena Mateeva.
Currently, specialists from the sanitary and epidemiological service are conducting a survey to clarify the circumstances and list the food products consumed. Samples are being taken for laboratory tests,
– she said.
According to preliminary data, the possibility of rotavirus or other acute intestinal infection is being considered, but final conclusions will only be reached after receiving the results of laboratory tests.
What bills have recently been passed by the Verkhovna Rada?
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The Verkhovna Rada has introduced a daily nationwide minute of silence at 9:00 a.m. to honor defenders and civilians who died as a result of Russian actions. The bill also includes a “Light a Candle” event to be held annually on the fourth Saturday of November at 4:00 p.m. in honor of the victims of the Holodomor of 1932-1933.
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The Verkhovna Rada has passed a law on a 12-month deferment from mobilization for young people who served under a contract from 18 to 25. The law creates a “grace period” for young contract soldiers who have been discharged.