Ukrainian Parliament repeatedly dismisses judge of Constitutional Court who gave Yanukovych dictatorial powers

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has dismissed today two judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine: Petro Stetsiuk and Oleksandr Paseniuk.

241 MPs voted for dismissal of Stetsiuk, and 239 MPs voted for dismissal of Paseniuk, Ukrayinska Pravda online newspaper reports.

“To release Oleksandr Paseniuk from position of the Constitutional Court judge in connection with reaching the age of 65,” the resolution states.

Delivering a speech in the Parliament, MP Yehor Sobolev recalled that the Parliament had already dismissed Paseniuk for breaking the oath, “for giving Yanukovych dictatorial powers,” but then Paseniuk managed to reinstate in the office.

Now, according to MP Sobolev, he will receive all the privileges of the judge and payments.

Sobolev noted that Prosecutor General Yuri Lutsenko should be asked about the investigation against the Constitutional Court judges.

“When the Rada dismissed the Constitutional Court judges, appointed by Parliament, in March 2014, the Prosecutor General’s Office was asked to investigate the case against the Constitutional Court judges for giving Yanukovych dictatorial powers. This case is being investigated under article ‘delivering of deliberately unlawful judgment, which leads to changes in the Constitution.’ So when will we be shown the results?” Sobolev stressed.

As for Stetsiuk, he wrote a letter of resignation due to the fact that his term of office expires.

“To release Petro Stetsiuk from position of the Constitutional Court judge in connection with submission of letter of resignation,” the resolution says.

As a reminder, former Chairman of the Supreme Administrative Court of Ukraine Paseniuk was released from the office of the Constitutional Court judge on February 24, 2014 by decision of the Verkhovna Rada for breaking the oath. He was reinstated in the office by the decision of the Supreme Administrative Court of June 11, 2014.

The Supreme Administrative Court ruled that dismissal of Paseniuk was illegal.

In this regard, Chairman of the Constitutional Court Yuri Baulin allowed Paseniuk to exercise his authorities of the Constitutional Court judge.