Constitutional Court of Ukraine approves decentralization-related amendments

Today, on July 31, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine has approved the decentralization-related amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine, said Vasyl Bryntsev, Deputy Chairman of the Ukraine’s Constitutional Court at a meeting of the court.

According to the Constitutional Court’s decision, the bill of amendments meets Articles of 157 and 158 of the Basic Law. To pass the amendments finally, the Supreme Rada will need 300 votes.

EADaily reported earlier that in mid-July Rada passed amendments to the Constitution and submitted the bill to the Constitutional Court.  In line with the bill, Ukraine needs to adopt a new Constitution by the end of the year – it must provide for decentralization as the key element (basing on the peculiarities of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions coordinated with the representatives of these regions) - and permanent legislation on the special status of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions (DPR and LPR).

Donbass representatives say these amendments have nothing to do with the implementation of the Minsk Agreements. The Russian Foreign Ministry has earlier said the bill of constitutional reform the Ukrainian president has submitted to the Supreme Rada ignores the suggestions of the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR.