European Solidarity calls for removal of pro-Russian MPs from Ukraine’s parliament

Source: Oleksiy Honcharenko

European Solidarity lawmakers protested in Ukraine’s parliament on Thursday, demanding to remove Yuriy Boyko  Yuriy Boyko and other Opposition Platform – For Life MPs from their parliamentary seats.

MP Oleksiy Honcharenko who was among those staging the protest said his party wanted to clarify their position on the situation.  This follows recent controversial remarks by Boyko, who accused “radicals” in Ukraine of “tearing down monuments, banning the Russian language, and prohibiting church attendance,” which many call echoing the  “Kremlin-aligned narratives”.

MP Iryna Herashchenko underscored the urgency of the issue, saying:

“The Kremlin’s fifth column is rearing its head. The vote to summon the Acting Prosecutor General received support from 201 MPs. OPZZh gave it zero votes. Servant of the People offered only 127!”

The Verkhovna Rada summoned Acting Prosecutor General Oleksiy Khomenko and SBU Chief Vasyl Maliuk to report on the activities of pro-Russian parties, particularly focusing on Boyko’s recent controversial statements. The session is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on December 18.

Notably, Boyko himself was no-show in the parliament.

The parliament though failed to advance legislation that would revoke mandates for Boyko and Opposition for Life  caucus ater draft laws No. 8089 and No. 7694 did not pass committee review.

The legislative push was earlier backed by lawmakers from European Solidarity, Batkivshchyna, Holos, Dovira, and Za Maybutnie but drew scepticism  from Servant of the People and former Opposition for Life fellow MPs.