Penalties for officials traveling abroad

Draft bill #9304 of May 16 2023 

Sponsor: Anton Yatsenko, independent 

Who is affected: MPs, the President, local councilors, community heads, civil servants, candidates running for political offices or civil service, police officers, local government officials, judges, service members, members of state regulators, and oligarchs. 

Summary of the bill: 

• persons authorized to exercise the authority of the state or local government who took personal trips abroad without a valid reason under martial law will be prohibited from the following: 
  • to run for office (presidency, the Parliament, local councils, the Verkhovna Rada of Crimea, and community heads) 
  • to be members of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine 
  • to apply for category A positions in civil service 
• these restrictions will be in effect for five years after martial law ends. 

What is wrong: 

• the bill violates the Constitution by proposing to introduce penalties retroactively 
• the bill will primarily affect female officials who, during the first days of the large-scale invasion, traveled abroad or evacuated their children and relatives. The bill is discriminatory and proposes a disproportionate penalty for people who were trying to protect themselves and their families. 

Alternative solution: to withdraw the draft bill.