Ukraine - March 2024

Ukraine’s parliament registered several draft laws that would indefinitely restrict the ability of members of the now-banned Party of Regions, Opposition Bloc, the Opposition Platform — For Life, Shariy Party and more from holding any political office at any level in the country. The parties were banned following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 for having links to Russia. The Venice Commission and ODIHR criticized the draft bills last year as indiscriminate and often unclear, and Ukrainian legal expert organization OPORA argued that members of the banned parties should only be prevented from holding office on the basis of a court decision. The draft laws will be considered by parliament and require presidential approval before becoming law.

Sources: OPORA, Evropeiska Pravda