Section: Politics
Ukrainian parliament says 75% of TV broadcasts now must be in Ukrainian
The Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has adopted a bill, setting quotas for nationwide TV channels, obliging them to ensure a 75% share of programs and movies in Ukrainian, according to an UaPosition correspondent. The document was adopted with 269 deputies voting in favor out of 356 MPs registered in the session hall, while the...
Ukraine`s agriculture minister resigns, waits for parliament`s green light
Ukraine`s Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Kutovyi has resigned, according to his Facebook post. ”The minister`s decision to resign is an absolutely natural process for any European country and usual practice in the world,” Kutovyi wrote on Wednesday evening. In his words, he is leaving the post, thanking members of the parliamentary...
Dutch Senate forms majority to support EU-Ukraine Association Agreement
The majority has been formed in the Dutch Senate in support of the ratification of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, according to BNR.nl. In addition to traditional supporters of the Agreement – senators from parties VVD, D66, GroenLinks, and PvdA, nine CDA senators and three representatives of CU are reportedly ready to ratify the deal...
White House explains converting military grants to loans, decision to affect Ukraine
The Trump administration`s budget proposal would convert some of the United States` foreign military grants to loans, part of a larger effort to slash spending on diplomacy, aid and programs abroad by more than 29%, as reported by Reuters. See also: Trump budget would convert Ukraine`s military grants to loans The cuts to programs under the State...
Freedom House calls on Rada to consult with civil society before choosing Ombudsman
As Ukraine`s parliament debates selection of a new Ombudsman, who has a vital role in calling attention to human rights and democratic governance issues, Freedom House suggests that Rada consider postponing the vote to ensure participation of civil society in the decision-making process. ”We urge the Rada to consider a wide range of candidates...
Flynn to decline U.S. Senate subpoena in Russia probe: media
Former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn will decline to comply with a subpoena from the Senate Intelligence Committee investigating possible Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, according to media reports on Monday. Flynn will invoke his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination, the Associated Press,...
PGO appeals court for permission to convict Azarov, Stavytsky in absentia
The Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko has said that a petition was sent to the Kyiv Pechersk District Court for permission to convict former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and former Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine Eduard Stavytsky in absentia, according to an UaPosition correspondent. ”As for Azarov, we have...
Belize launches investigation into money laundering by Yanukovych, Manafort – Bloomberg
Belize authorities have launched an investigation into money laundering by former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and American political technologist Paul Manafort, according to Bloomberg. See also: Manafort falsified invoice to Belize company to legitimize Yanukovych`s $750,000 payment to himself – Ukrainian MP In the five-year period from...
McCain: Russian diplomat didn`t belong in the Oval Office
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Sunday that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov did not belong in the Oval Office for a meeting with President Trump, according to The Hill. McCain told host Chris Wallace on ”Fox News Sunday” that Lavrov ”had no business in the Oval Office,” The Hill reported. The senator said the Russian foreign minister is...
Russian ambassador Kislyak and close Putin’s friend, Ukrainian oligarch Medvedchuk was in contact with Trump campaign – Reuters
Michael Flynn and other advisers to Donald Trump`s campaign were in contact with Russian officials and others with Kremlin ties in at least 18 calls and emails during the last seven months of the 2016 presidential race, current and former U.S. officials familiar with the exchanges told Reuters. Six of the previously undisclosed contacts described...