Verkhovna Rada confirms impossibility of holding local elections during martial law

According to a Ukrinform correspondent, legislative initiative No. 14031 was supported by 308 votes.

According to the document, the organization, preparation, and conduct of local elections in compliance with national legislation and European standards of democratic elections are impossible under the conditions of the Russian Federation’s military aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing martial law.

The resolution emphasizes that responsibility for the impossibility of timely organizing, preparing, and conducting local elections in Ukraine in accordance with democratic electoral standards rests with the aggressor state – the Russian Federation.

At the same time, it underlines that the stable functioning of local self-government bodies and the exercise of their powers as provided by the Constitution and laws of Ukraine are essential conditions for maintaining the principle of continuity of power, ensuring law and order, national security, state defense, and the vital activities of territorial communities.

The resolution confirms that village, settlement, city, district-in-city, district, and regional councils, as well as village, settlement, and city mayors, elected in accordance with the law (except those whose powers have been terminated prematurely), shall continue to exercise their powers until new councils and mayors are elected in the next local elections and assume their duties.

Following the end of the Russian Federation’s armed aggression and the termination or cancellation of martial law, the decision to hold local elections will be adopted in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine, the Election Code of Ukraine, and the laws of Ukraine.

Members of Parliament have called on the international community to maintain unity of effort in ensuring the continuity of representative local self-government bodies in Ukraine amid the Russian Federation’s military aggression.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on August 18, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House that he is prepared to hold elections after the war ends.