Parliament refuses to provide information on MPs' incomes
14.11.2011, 06:11
According to "Stop Censorship!" movement, the refusal from the Secretariate of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Parliament) to provide information on MPs’ income declarations is an illegal attempt to hide important facts from the public. The movement distributed respective statement on June 15.
"This decision also reflects the desire of many governmental officials to continue the course of closure and separation of authorities from society and directly contradicts the political statements of the President of Ukraine concerning the fight against corruption", - it is stated in the message.
“Stop Censorship!” stresses that the Members of Parliament are elected by Ukrainian people and they are employed at the expense of taxpayers. Thus, their profits and wealth are a subject of public interest.
On 15 June, the Secretariate of Parliament refused to provide information on MPs' incomes following a request by journalist Mustafa Nayem, justifying its decision by noting: "The legal uncertainty in this matter leads to the fact that information providers have to interpret legal rules and determine priorities in each case of public or private interest using their own discretion."
The "Stop Censorship!" movement plans to appeal the Secretariat's decision before the European Court of Human Rights in order to ensure Ukrainian society's right to information.
STATEMENT
We, Ukrainian journalists and representatives of the public, believe that the decision of the Parliament Secretariat and Members of Parliament not to make income declarations public is disrespectful of the principles of transparency and accountability of the authorities to the public. We would like to remind that these principles are the first signs of the democratic state. Moreover, in our opinion, this decision directly contradicts the Law "On Access to Public Information", which was approved by Ukrainian Parliament.
We remind Members of Parliament that they are elected by Ukrainian people and employed at the expense of taxpayers. Thus, their profits and wealth is the subject of public interest. People have the right to access information about the financial status of their representatives whom they elect to represent their own interests.
The refusal to provide income declarations, we can interpret only as an illegal attempt to hide important information from the public. This situation clearly demonstrates the real attitude of the authorities towards the interests of Ukrainian society. The refusal to make income declarations public means either misunderstanding of principles of the democratic state by the MPs, or their conscious disregard for these principles.
This decision also reflects the desire of many governmental officials to continue the course of closure and separation of authorities from the society and directly contradicts the political statements of the President of Ukraine concerning the fight against corruption
As representatives of public organizations, we believe that the part of our mission is to control and enforce the laws of Ukraine and the right of society for information. We express our intention to appeal the Secretariat’s decision up to the European Court of Human Rights in order to ensure the right of Ukrainian society to information.
BACKGROUND:
The civic movement “Stop Censorship!” initiated the submission of requests for the publication of income declarations after the Law "On Access to Public Information" came into force. Thus on 12 May, NGO “Centre UA” and NGO “Maidan” sent by post and e-mail the written requests to each Member of Parliament. On 13 May, journalist Mustafa Nayem also sent the request to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine asking to provide copies of MP’s income declarations. On 19 May, Mustafa Nayem received a reply from the Head of Secretariate of the Parliament Mr. Zaychyuk, stating that “compliance with this request requires the provision of a large amount of information and its analysis, therefore the term of consideration is extended to 20 days."
On 15 June, the Secretariate of the Parliament refused to make income declarations of MPs public, grounding the decision in such a way: "The legal uncertainty in this matter leads to the fact that information providers have to interpret legal rules and determine priorities in each case of public or private interest using their own discretion.”
On the whole, only 77 members of Parliament responded to the request for information and provided their declarations for publication. 55 MPs sent a reply asking to appeal to the Secretariate of Verkhovna Rada for this information.
The civic movement “Stop Censorship!” was founded on May 21, 2010. The movement is an informal group of journalists which emerged in response to the oppression of freedom of speech in Ukraine.
This is an initiative of Ukrainian journalists and media public organizations aimed at protecting freedom of speech, curbing censorship in Ukraine, and preventing any interference in journalists' professional activity and the violation of professional standards.
The civic movement “Stop Censorship!” does not support any political force and receives no financial support from any political party.
"This decision also reflects the desire of many governmental officials to continue the course of closure and separation of authorities from society and directly contradicts the political statements of the President of Ukraine concerning the fight against corruption", - it is stated in the message.
“Stop Censorship!” stresses that the Members of Parliament are elected by Ukrainian people and they are employed at the expense of taxpayers. Thus, their profits and wealth are a subject of public interest.
On 15 June, the Secretariate of Parliament refused to provide information on MPs' incomes following a request by journalist Mustafa Nayem, justifying its decision by noting: "The legal uncertainty in this matter leads to the fact that information providers have to interpret legal rules and determine priorities in each case of public or private interest using their own discretion."
The "Stop Censorship!" movement plans to appeal the Secretariat's decision before the European Court of Human Rights in order to ensure Ukrainian society's right to information.
STATEMENT
We, Ukrainian journalists and representatives of the public, believe that the decision of the Parliament Secretariat and Members of Parliament not to make income declarations public is disrespectful of the principles of transparency and accountability of the authorities to the public. We would like to remind that these principles are the first signs of the democratic state. Moreover, in our opinion, this decision directly contradicts the Law "On Access to Public Information", which was approved by Ukrainian Parliament.
We remind Members of Parliament that they are elected by Ukrainian people and employed at the expense of taxpayers. Thus, their profits and wealth is the subject of public interest. People have the right to access information about the financial status of their representatives whom they elect to represent their own interests.
The refusal to provide income declarations, we can interpret only as an illegal attempt to hide important information from the public. This situation clearly demonstrates the real attitude of the authorities towards the interests of Ukrainian society. The refusal to make income declarations public means either misunderstanding of principles of the democratic state by the MPs, or their conscious disregard for these principles.
This decision also reflects the desire of many governmental officials to continue the course of closure and separation of authorities from the society and directly contradicts the political statements of the President of Ukraine concerning the fight against corruption
As representatives of public organizations, we believe that the part of our mission is to control and enforce the laws of Ukraine and the right of society for information. We express our intention to appeal the Secretariat’s decision up to the European Court of Human Rights in order to ensure the right of Ukrainian society to information.
BACKGROUND:
The civic movement “Stop Censorship!” initiated the submission of requests for the publication of income declarations after the Law "On Access to Public Information" came into force. Thus on 12 May, NGO “Centre UA” and NGO “Maidan” sent by post and e-mail the written requests to each Member of Parliament. On 13 May, journalist Mustafa Nayem also sent the request to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine asking to provide copies of MP’s income declarations. On 19 May, Mustafa Nayem received a reply from the Head of Secretariate of the Parliament Mr. Zaychyuk, stating that “compliance with this request requires the provision of a large amount of information and its analysis, therefore the term of consideration is extended to 20 days."
On 15 June, the Secretariate of the Parliament refused to make income declarations of MPs public, grounding the decision in such a way: "The legal uncertainty in this matter leads to the fact that information providers have to interpret legal rules and determine priorities in each case of public or private interest using their own discretion.”
On the whole, only 77 members of Parliament responded to the request for information and provided their declarations for publication. 55 MPs sent a reply asking to appeal to the Secretariate of Verkhovna Rada for this information.
The civic movement “Stop Censorship!” was founded on May 21, 2010. The movement is an informal group of journalists which emerged in response to the oppression of freedom of speech in Ukraine.
This is an initiative of Ukrainian journalists and media public organizations aimed at protecting freedom of speech, curbing censorship in Ukraine, and preventing any interference in journalists' professional activity and the violation of professional standards.
The civic movement “Stop Censorship!” does not support any political force and receives no financial support from any political party.
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