Thursday
22 october 2009
21:32
Like Lozynsky, pedophile lawmakers will be saved from prosecution by their political patrons, Pres Yushchenko opines
“There are pedophiles in Ukraine’s high offices, those who inflict immeasurable damage to our morals, our choice. Unfortunately, they have deputy immunity,” the incumbent lashed out.
Regrettably, he continued, the prosecution is not effective because it views lawmakers as the untouchables, Yushchenko said. Prosecutors have to obtain a consent to arrest a lawmaker through a lengthy procedure involving parliament’s agreement. This red-tape allowed Lozynsky to get off the hook with the help of his political patrons [incidentally, Lozynsky was also a BYT member – Ed.], Yushchenko stressed.
The president said he demands a quick reaction by the prosecution to the child rape scandal to prove to Ukrainians that law-enforcement is efficient and can bring such individuals to account.
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The parliament has voted to remove immunity from criminal liability. Is this not want he wanted?
They have also voted to limit Presidential and judges immunity. Something that Yushchenko failed to address.
The President of Ukraine is the only person who has absolute immunity.
The President can not be detained without the consent of the Parliament. If found guilty of a crime by Ukraine's courts will now automatically lose office.
Parliament has never refused to cancel a MP's immunity when requested. Immunity has never been a real issue except as a whipping horse and a pretense by Yushchenko claiming it to be the cause of most problems facing Ukraine.
The Parliament's removal of immunity for criminal liability should be supported. The limitation of Presidential immunity should be support as is the case with limitations that will also apply to Judges.
Yushchenko did not include proposal to remove or limit Presidential immunity or immunity of judges in in his Constitutional reform proposals.
Immunity still exist for diplomatic positions.
The changes that are now proposed will bring Ukraine in line with other western democracies. Most notably is the removal of defamation liability for statements made in Parliamentary debate. This will allow for more open debate without threats or intimidation of legal action. It is now up to the parliament to ensure that this preverlidge is not abused and that parliament sets out strict guidelines and creates a parliamentary priverlidge committee to consider any breaches of priveralige take appropriate disciplinary action that is required.
Yushchenko can no longer hide behind false facts and use this issue as a whipping horse.