Ukraine to Redraft its Constitution

KYIV, Ukraine, February 22, 2011 - Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych may have effectively
launched the constitutional reform process by signing the Decree "On
Supporting the Initiative to Establish the Constitutional Assembly," as
reported by the Press office of the president. First Ukrainian President
Leonid Kravchuk (1991-1994) will supervise the working group of scientific
experts to establish the Constitutional Assembly that will work on the
wording of the new Constitution of Ukraine and become an advisory body to the
president.

"Ukraine has not seen systemic reforms in 20 years of its
independence, which we celebrate this year," said Yanukovych reminding that
the reforms should be consistent, comprehensive and bear systematic approach.

It is planned that the new draft of the constitution prepared
by the Assembly in a form of a presidential bill would have to be considered
by the Ukrainian parliament (VerkhovnaRada) after the elections in 2012.

The Constitutional Assembly will be closely working with the
European Commission for Democracy through Law, better known as the Venice
Commission - the Council of Europe's advisory body on constitutional matters
and internationally recognized independent legal think-tank.

The Constitutional process has never been a smooth one
throughout Ukrainian history. The initial version of 1996 Constitution was
approved after five years of a vibrant nation-wide discussion. The amendments
of the 2004 Constitution have been adopted amidst a deep political crisis and
were aimed at achieving a political compromise between the two rivaling camps
making Ukraine the parliamentary-presidential republic. Last October the
Supreme Court ruled to repeal the 2004 amendments reestablishing the
presidential parliamentary republic according to the initial version of the
Constitution adopted in 1996 and increasing the Presidential powers.

Such initiative has been previously commented on by a number
of European leaders and legislative experts including Stefan Fuele, who was
pleased to hear that President Yanukovych intended to start a constitutional
reform process taking into account the expertise and advice of the Venice
Commission, and professor Sergio Bartole, member of the Venice commission,
who confirmed the commission's heavy criticism against the 2004 amendments.
One of the major drawbacks of the 2004 procedures was the fact that the
amendments changing the political system in the country had to be voted on a
referendum, which was not the case back then.

For more information, please contact Maryna Khorunzha, +380509151565, news at wnu-ukraine.com, Project Manager at Worldwide News Ukraine