Ukrainian MP Nestor Shufrych, suspected of treason, remotely joined the meeting of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Freedom of Speech. According to the court decision, he is under 24-hour house arrest.
During the meeting, Shufrych took part in online voting and spoke at the end of the committee’s work.
“I congratulate you on the fact that we are working in full force”, he noted.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Freedom of Speech is the smallest parliamentary committee and has three members. In addition to Shufrych, its members include the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Freedom of Speech Yaroslav Yurchyshyn and People’s Deputy of Ukraine Yevheniy Brahar.
Yurchyshyn explained the day before that Shufrych remains a current People’s Deputy of Ukraine and a member of the committee, and therefore has the right to participate in its work.
“In short, why does he have such a right: Shufrych is a current People’s Deputy of Ukraine and a member of the Committee on Freedom of Speech. At the same time, he was informed of suspicion of high treason (Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). At the same time, in accordance with the principle of the presumption of innocence, only a court can find a person guilty, and a guilty verdict must enter into legal force,” Yurchyshyn emphasized.
He also noted that the law does not allow the committee to prevent a People’s Deputy from participating in a meeting, but on the contrary, obliges it to ensure such participation. Previously, Shufrych achieved the right to exercise his deputy’s powers through the court and has registered three bills since December 2024.
Shufrych’s participation in the meeting became possible due to the preservation of his deputy’s mandate and membership in the parliamentary committee.
