Former Ukrainian president's party sets conditions for resumption of Verkhovna Rada work

The European Solidarity faction in Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada has outlined a series of demands for the resumption of full parliamentary work, following a disruption caused by sanctions imposed on the party's leader, Petro Poroshenko.

Artur Herasymov, the faction's co-chairman, stated that the party is ready to return to the parliamentary sessions if its conditions are met, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

"In addition to lifting the sanctions against party leader Petro Poroshenko, we have put forward four more demands. We are ready to return and work in the hall [of parliamentary sessions] if they are fulfilled," Herasymov said.

The European Solidarity faction had blocked parliamentary proceedings after sanctions were imposed on Poroshenko. In protest, its MPs staged a demonstration by marching to the parliamentary rostrum, holding placards, and engaging in heated arguments with Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk. The protest escalated into a brief scuffle, forcing the session, which had started just two minutes earlier, to be adjourned.

European Solidarity also set conditions for unblocking the podium: removing the former Opposition Platform – For Life party from the Verkhovna Rada hall, canceling the decision to buy reactors for the Khmelnytskyi NPP, putting the "EU" bill on banning Russian oil transportation to a vote, and transferring military personal income tax to the brigades.

The move by European Solidarity represents a continued tension in Ukraine's political landscape, as the opposition party calls for changes in policy and actions related to both domestic and foreign matters.

To recall, Ukrainian law enforcement officers are stationed outside the residence of former President Petro Poroshenko as preparations are underway for his arrest on charges of treason.

The development was reported by the UNIAN news agency while the specific law enforcement agency involved has not been disclosed, per Caliber.Az.

The move comes after Poroshenko announced that the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine had imposed sanctions against him. He also revealed that he had received 15 subpoenas to appear before the State Bureau of Investigation, effectively barring him from attending the Munich Security Conference scheduled for February 14 to 16.

Poroshenko denounced the actions as “unconstitutional and politically motivated,” claiming that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is behind the pressure. The former president accused Zelenskyy of attempting to shift the blame for his own failures onto others, including military commanders, and cited his case as an example of this strategy.

In his address to the nation on February 12, President Zelenskyy addressed the National Security and Defence Council’s meeting, emphasizing the need to block billions allegedly earned by selling out Ukrainian interests. He stated these funds should instead be directed towards Ukraine's defence efforts.

The pressure on Poroshenko has been building since late January. Lawmaker Iryna Herashchenko stated that there were attempts to restrict Poroshenko’s right to attend parliamentary sessions for six months. His party, European Solidarity, also reported government plans to limit his parliamentary activities.

This political pressure coincided with statements from the new US administration, which has called for Ukraine’s presidential elections to occur before the end of the year. Media reports have highlighted that Zelenskyy's office has significantly ramped up efforts to suppress opposition, especially after the US statements.

Poroshenko served as Ukraine's president from June 7, 2014, to May 20, 2019.

By Vafa Guliyeva