Ukraine Reestablishes A Presidential-Parliamentary Republic

KYIV, October 1, 2010 - The Constitutional Court of Ukraine has canceled 2004
constitutional reform today. The final and unchallengeable decision was
announced today by the Head of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Anatoliy
Holovin. With the decision coming into force Ukraine reestablishes the
presidential-parliamentary republic according to the initial version of the
Constitution adopted in 1996.

The hearings on the constitutional reform started on September
23 upon an inquiry that was submitted by 252 Ukrainian MPs on July 14 this
year. The Constitutional process has never been a smooth one throughout
Ukrainian history.

The initial version of 1996 Constitution was approved after 5
years of a vibrant nation-wide discussion. The amendments of 2004
Constitution were adopted amidst a deep political crisis and were aimed at
achieving a political compromise between the two rivaling camps.

The new decision thus reestablishes presidential-parliamentary
republic in the country, increasing the President's powers by giving him a
right to appoint and dismiss Head of Government, all Ministers and the Heads
of a number of other executive power institutions.

It is worth mentioning, that according to the Constitutional
amendments which were in force until today, the Parliamentary majority had a
right to form the Government and put forward the candidacy of the Prime
Minister to the President.

For a short history of Ukraine's constitutional process,
please visit: wnu-ukraine.com/files/constitutional_court.pdf

For more information, please contact Natalya Shulevskaya +38-0633776645, news at wnu-ukraine.com, Project Manager at Worldwide News Ukraine