The procedureof access to open Parliament sessions is approved by Chairmanof the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov. Henceforwardevery person can visit a Parliament session after submitting anelectronic application and receiving a pass on the relevant plenary day.
TheAmendments to the Rules of the Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraineconcerning a right to attend Parliament session came into force in March 2014.However, the mechanism of this right’s realization remained indefinite. It wasnot practically possible to get into the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for ordinarycitizens due to the lack of Oleksandr Turchynov`s special disposal.
Afterunsuccessful appeals to the speaker of the Parliament with a request to fulfillthe requirements of the law, a resource editor of the “Access to the Truth” AlisaRuban under the initiative and support of Media Law Institute submitted alawsuit against Oleksandr Turchynov. The requirement was to ensure publicaccess to open Parliament sessions.
Despitethe fact that hearing was firstly scheduled on October 28, it has been alreadypostponed several times (currently the hearing is appointed on December 10,2014), the main outcome has been achieved – on October 27 Oleksandr Turchynovfinally approved the Order of open plenary sessions access (No 694).
Itshould be noted that the official website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukrainehasn`t published the document yet, but Media Law Institute lawyers received ascanned copy of the Order in response to their informational request.
Accordingto Turchynov`s decision free access to the session will be provided from thefirst day of the 8th Verkhovna Rada session.