Zelensky strips 34 traitors of state awards
Source: Volodymyr Zelensky
On Friday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree revoking state awards earlier given to 34 individuals deemed traitors to Ukraine. The list includes former officials, members of parliament, security officers, prosecutors, artists, and prominent Russian political, religious, and cultural figures.
Among those stripped of the medals are Oleksandr Yefremov, Renat Kuzmin, Viktor Medvedchuk, Dmytro Tabachuk, Mykola Azarov, and Viktor Pshonka.
The decree also targets Russian figures such as Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church, Russian and former Ukrainian celebrities Nikolai Baskov, Philip Kirkorov, Alexander Malinin, composer Igor Krutoy, Karolina Kuek (Ani Lorak) and Taisia Povaliy.
On November 20, President Zelensky signed Law No. 11410, which enables the revocation of state awards for those who “promote or glorify the aggressor state or engage in other illegal actions against Ukraine”. Initiated by Zelensky, the law had received the votes of 283 Ukranian lawmakers.
Amendments to Ukraine’s enforcement proceedings legislation, initiated by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, have entered into force. Among other measures, the reform provides for the automated lifting of attachments on bank accounts immediately after debts in enforcement proceedings have been fully settled. The main practical benefit for citizens is the complete elimination of the need to contact an enforcement officer in person and wait for paper decisions once the debt has been paid.
The 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade has received another batch of supplies as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative. This time, the military received seven quad bikes and four mobile shower and bath units.
In my previous column, I wrote about social innovations in Ukraine. Those innovations are part of civic resilience and the democratization of security, which Europe is paying close attention to right now. The EU is trying to work out how to spread responsibility for its own security across society as a whole, rather than leaving it to institutions alone. It is looking for concrete ways to bring ordinary people into the work of defense and resistance.
Petro Poroshenko’s lawyers have appealed to the High Anti-Corruption Court demanding that NABU be obligated to register proceedings regarding the fact of exerting influence on the court and to recognize Petro Poroshenko as a victim in the case of the Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Iryna Mudra, due to her pressure on Supreme Court judges who were considering a lawsuit to overturn sanctions.
Internationally recognized brands and financial institutions should direct capital to Ukraine now, not waiting for the hostilities to end. This was emphasized by Rinat Akhmetov, president of FC Shakhtar, during a working visit to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where he met with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.