Parliament adopts law on special order of local government in occupied Donbas

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, the respective decision was supported by 229 lawmakers at a parliament meeting on Friday.

The document amends the Ukrainian law on the special order of local government in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, proposing that Article 1 of this law have the following wording: "Under this law, a special procedure for local government is introduced in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which include districts, towns, villages, which are determined by the decision of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for a period ending one year from the date of entry into force of the law of Ukraine on the creation of the necessary conditions for a peaceful settlement of the situation in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions."

At the same time, the document states that the special order of local government in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions will come into force after the withdrawal of all illegal armed units, their military equipment, as well as militants and mercenaries from Ukrainian territory.

The law comes into force on the day it is published.

The Ukrainian law the special order of local self-government in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on September 16, 2014. The president signed it on October 16, 2014, and the law came into force on October 18, 2014. Meanwhile, only Article 1 of this law was in force, and it concerned the introduction of a special procedure for local self-government in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions for three years.

Other articles of this law, in accordance with the final provisions, are effective "from the day of the acquisition of authority by local self-government bodies in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions elected at the extraordinary elections held in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine, this and other laws of Ukraine."