Poroshenko calls on parliament to approve abolition of parliamentary immunity

The President said this while delivering a speech on the occasion of the Constitution Day, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"A week ago, on June 20, the Constitutional Court adopted a relevant decision and approved the presidential bill on constitutional amendments regarding the abolition of parliamentary immunity. I expect the Verkhovna Rada to pass these amendments as soon as possible," Poroshenko said.

The proposed amendments stipulate that lawmakers of the next convocation will be stripped of immunity, the President added. The amendments are to enter into force on January 1, 2020

"I do not see any reason for delaying the abolition of parliamentary immunity. We canceled the immunity of judges during the judicial reform... I am sure that my constitutional proposals on parliamentary immunity should be approved as well," Poroshenko said.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, First Lady Maryna Poroshenko and a number of Ukrainian officials have laid flowers at the monument to the Pylyp Orlyk, the author of the first Ukrainian Constitution.

Ukraine marks the Constitution Day annually on June 28 to honor adoption of the Basic Law in 1996.

ol