The terrorist state launched a total of 55 missiles at Ukraine with the sole purpose of destroying critical infrastructure objects and exerting psychological pressure on Ukrainians.
The European Court of Human Rights ruled that it has jurisdiction over complaints against russia for human rights violations in the territories of eastern Ukraine that were under russia’s control. According to Síofra O'Leary, President of the ECHR, the court “unanimously has decided that from May 11, 2014, the events fall under the jurisdiction of the court," as "the territories captured by the separatists were under the control of the russian federation."
Acording to an official press-release, the designation, along with new sanctions, came as a response to Wagner Group’s “being responsible for or complicit in, or having engaged in, the targeting of women, children, or any civilians through the commission of acts of violence, or abduction, forced displacement, or attacks on schools, hospitals, religious sites, or locations where civilians are seeking refuge,” as well as for the “conduct that would constitute a serious abuse or violation of human rights or a violation of international humanitarian law.”
The resolution entitled “Conflict-related sexual violence” stipulates that “Since February 2014, the russian federation has waged a war of aggression against Ukraine, which it relaunched on 24 February 2022 with a massive invasion of Ukraine.” The document also condemns the mass conflict-related sexual violence committed by the russia’s armed forces and by affiliated armed groups against the civilian population of Ukraine and Ukrainian PoWs.
The lower house of the Italian parliament approved a government resolution that extends the authorization for the transfer of military vehicles, materials, and equipment to Kyiv under a simplified procedure. The extension will remain in force until December 31, 2023.
A motion to allow for the re-export of Swiss-made weaponry to conflict zones under certain conditions was supported by the committee for the security policy of the National Council, the lower house of the Swiss parliament. The text adopted in the committee seeks to create a possibility for revocation of non-re-export clauses in the Swiss government’s agreements with third countries if the weapons are to be shipped to a conflict condemned as violating international law by a two-thirds majority of the UN General Assembly. In the case of russia’s war in Ukraine, the UN General Assembly has already decided accordingly.
David McAllister, MEP, praised Ukrainians’ bravery in defending their country and stated that “the 2014 illegal annexation of Crimea should have been a real warning signal” for Europe. He called for establishing a special tribunal to prosecute the war crimes committed by the russian armed forces in Ukraine and pledged the European Parliament’s continued support for Ukraine in its “defense against the barbaric war of aggression by the russian federation.”
On January 25, USAID Rada: Next Generation Program hosted the donors’ coordination meeting, dedicated to the presentation of the poll: “Citizens and the Parliament: Trust, Interaction and Transparency in Martial Law.” The poll indicated that 56% of Ukrainians either "rather" or "completely" trust the Verkhovna Rada as an institution. Olena Kondratiuk, Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, noted that several reasons could explain such results.
According to her, Ukraine’s Parliament passed an exam for resilience on February 24, 2022, when russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. She noted that the fact that Parliament stayed in Kyiv played a significant role in the county’s resistance as an example of bravery. She also noted that the coherence in MPs’ work in the parliament also impacted the high level of trust in the Parliament among voters. At the same time, she stressed that accountability and transparency should remain an essential part of the VRU’s operation.
She emphasized the coordination efforts of the VRU Secretariat, MPs, and VRU leadership within the Communication Task Force, which USAID Rada: Next Generation was part of and helped mobilize international support to Ukraine and highlight parliament’s external communication and improve coordination between communication units of the VRU Secretariat.
Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada noted that the support from the USAID RADA: Next Generation Activity helped the Parliament remain an effective institution among other Ukraine’s public authorities.
Yulia Paliychuk informed that MPs of the Servant of People had their internal poll on whether he should be expelled or not. According to the poll, he will be expelled after the faction’s meeting. Earlier, Ms. Paliychuk clarified that MP Tyschenko had been dismissed from the position of deputy chairman of the parliamentary faction Servant of the People. Before that, he was expelled from the political party.
Media reported that the head of the faction David Arakhamia called an urgent meeting to exclude Tyschenko from the faction. Tyschenko planned to hold a meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian community in Bangkok on January 27 to "discuss issues of improving cooperation." This information was confirmed by the press service of the Embassy of Ukraine in Thailand.
According to Yuriy Boyko, former co-chair of the Opposition of the Platform for Life, MPs Natalia Korolevska, Yuriy Solod, and Oleg Voloshin sent letters to give up their MP mandates.
On January 23-25, the Program conducted training for MPs and their teams in cooperation with the PRS Training Unit. The training was dedicated to the following aspects of the MP’s work: voters-MP interaction and amending legislation. The training is a part of the Program’s assistance in establishing the Training Unit as a part of the PRS responsible for the planning and organization of training of newly elected MPs.
On January 24, 2023, the Program facilitated a strategic session for members of the Parliamentary Research Service to provide recommendations on various types of products that the Research Service works with.
On January 25, 2023, the Program presented the Czech experience regarding the role of the Research Service in European integration. In particular, they discussed parliament-government interaction and parliamentary oversight to implement best practices in operating Ukraine’s Parliamentary Research Service. Program's recommendations regarding the organizational structure have been included in the PRS Strategy.
On January 25, 2023, during the International Parliamentary Technical Assistance Coordination Meeting (IPTAC), USAID RADA: Next Generation Activity presented the key findings of the recently conducted poll “Citizens and the Parliament: Trust, Interaction and Transparency in Martial Law”, which gathered 90 participants, among them VRU Deputy Speaker, MPs, experts. The poll allows MPs, experts, and donors to see which aspects of the Parliament’s operation and communication are noticeable to voters and which can be improved.
MP, Roman Kaptelov noted he had cooperated with the USAID RADA: Next Generation Program in his constituency and provided trainings to his team and also improved communication with voters, including internally displaced persons and stakeholders. MP, Viacheslav Rubliov, appreciated the Program’s efforts to improve MPs’ communication via social networks.
Oleksandr Piskun, Democracy Project Management Specialist, Office of Democracy and Governance, USAID, mentioned that the Parliament is the key institution for the stability of the country. Therefore, the level of trust is the key element. He reaffirmed that USAID would continue to support Ukraine’s Parliament while implementing its functions.
Ihor Kohut, USAID RADA: Next Generation COP, noted that effective parliamentary communication involves not only providing information but also cooperation. In particular, it is about cooperation with various groups of stakeholders, civil society, and business. In this context, promoting civic and parliamentary education remains an essential aspect.
On January 26, the Program conducted a meeting with the NGO "Association of MPs" to discuss prospects for further cooperation. Program's collaboration with the Association will be dedicated to the development of the Law-Drafting Office Concept.
On January 27, Program's COP Ihor Kohut met with Olena Kondratiuk, VRU Vice-Speaker, to discuss the preparation of the VRU Comprehensive Communication Strategy, including Parliament-voters’ interaction. Program experts will be included in the working group to develop the new communication strategy of Ukraine’s Parliament.
on creative methods for social media updating.
for the Parliamentary Research Service, training center experts, and staff.
for MPs and their teams in cooperation with PRS Training Center.
in holding the online Committee hearing “The tools of public support for veterans – participants in hostilities in the post-war period.”
in holding a sitting in Lutsk, the Volyn region.