Ukrainians appealed to the president to mobilize deputies, civil servants and security forces: Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s response
Ukrainian society continues to raise the question of the fairness of mobilization. In the midst of the war, calls are increasingly being heard about the need to enlist deputies, civil servants, law enforcement officers and representatives of other budgetary institutions into military service. Against this background, indignation arises: why do some bear the entire burden of war, while others remain aloof?
Civil inquiry
One of the most discussed petitioner was the initiative of Svyatoslav Dubina, which calls for the mobilization of all civil servants, law enforcement officers and employees of the budget sphere. The author argues this by the fact that many Ukrainians have already voluntarily joined the ranks of the Armed Forces, while others, remaining in their positions, avoid military service.
“The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, responded to a number of electronic petitions in which citizens demand the forced mobilization of government representatives, law enforcement agencies, and even people’s deputies. His response opened up new sides of the discussion about the balance between the responsibilities and rights of these groups in wartime,” – the text of the petition states.
Photo: petition.president.gov.ua
The second petition, initiated by Vyacheslav Vasylenko, concerns people’s deputies. The author proposes to attract parliamentarians to military service, because, according to him, this will become a powerful moral signal for society and confirm their loyalty to the country.
“The mass media have repeatedly reported on the lack of conscripts for rotations and renewal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The mobilization of people’s deputies and civil servants of various levels will help level the conditions for all citizens and contribute to the victory over the terrorist state.”, says the text of the petition.
Photo: petition.president.gov.ua
The authors of the petitions and the citizens who signed them are convinced that the mobilization of such categories will level the playing field for everyone and contribute to the restoration of justice. These two petitions received more than the required number of votes.
Answer of the President of Ukraine
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, responded to these electronic petitions by emphasizing that the Verkhovna Rada is the only legislative body of Ukraine that ensures the stability of state governance even during war. In his answer, he noted that forced mobilization of people’s deputies can have negative consequences. This includes the risk of losing the independence of their activities, violating the principles of democratic governance, and even threatening the state’s vital activities due to the lack of a quorum to pass laws.
Zelensky also referred to international experience, recalling that during the Second World War, parliamentarians could go to the front only voluntarily. He emphasized that the involvement of civil servants in the Armed Forces should also take into account voluntary consent and the real needs of the army.
The President announced that he had asked the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk and Prime Minister Denys Shmygal to work out these proposals in detail.
“Regarding the issue raised in the petition regarding the need to enter
of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine “as a priority bill on demobilization
and priority recruitment in state and law enforcement agencies of Ukraine
of persons who participated in the Defense Forces from February 24, 2022″ I will note the following.
By Law No. 3633-IX, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is tasked with developing and
submit to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine draft laws on improvement
mechanisms of rotation of military personnel in the conditions of martial law, their
dismissal from military service and medical and social rehabilitation (Prykintsevi et
transitional provisions).
This Law also introduced changes to a number of laws of Ukraine, which
establish requirements for candidates for civil service positions, services in
local self-government bodies, the police, prosecutors regarding the passage
them of basic combined military training or military service.
Taking into account what is stated, as well as what the Constitution of Ukraine, laws
of Ukraine “About the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine”, “About mobilization training and
mobilization” the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is entrusted with the implementation of measures regarding
ensuring the combat capability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the defense capability of Ukraine,
organizational management of mobilization training and mobilization, I
appealed to the Prime Minister of Ukraine D. Shmyhal with a comprehensive request
to process the issues raised in the electronic petition and their results
review to inform the author”, – answered the president.
Public pressure on the authorities forces politicians to respond to requests for equality in mobilization. For now, the key factor remains the voluntary principle for deputies and civil servants. But given the escalation of the war, this debate may continue, especially if public demands grow.
For Ukraine today, it is important to find a balance between the effectiveness of management and the need to involve all sections of the population in the defense of the country. Without this, the fairness of mobilization will remain only a promise, and the inequality in the distribution of responsibilities will only increase the tension in society.
