Ukraine has returned a draft law for review, tightening the regulations of mobilization, military registration and military service. The head of the parliamentary faction, David Arakhamia, announced this decision on Thursday, stating that a closed-door discussion took place between the military command and the Conciliation Board on January 11. The draft law was submitted by the Cabinet of Ministers to the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian Parliament, on December 25, 2023.
The Draft law No. 10378,“On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Improving Certain Issues of Mobilization, Military Registration and Military Service,” aims at addressing issues such as the deferral of military service, including those with disabilities, changes in the conscription age, and the engagement of local governments in mobilization activities. However, following a review by the Parliamentary Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy on January 8, the draft has been determined as potentially carrying corruption risks and therefore, has been returned for revisions.
“There were many discussions. We understand the request of the military command and are ready to meet it. But not all the provisions can be supported. Some provisions directly violate human rights, some are not optimally formulated.” Arakhamia clarified in a statement.
The draft law has faced criticism from both Ukrainian citizens and MPs alike. The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, stated during a telethon that certain provisions of the draft law on mobilization might contradict the Constitution of Ukraine.
This news underscores the ongoing debate on military service regulation in Ukraine, which continually balances national security needs with its commitments to human rights and anti-corruption initiatives.
This article is based on coverage from JURIST.