The Constitutional Court of Ukraine begins consideration of law on de-communization
The Constitutional Court has begun consideration of the constitutionality of the law on de-communization ("On the condemnation of the communist and national-socialist [nazi] totalitarian regimes in Ukraine and the prohibition of propaganda of their symbols"), announced acting head of the court, Viktor Kryvenko.
There are 14 judges at the hearing; none of the judges have recused themselves.
The examination is taking place in the form of written proceedings.
"I declare open the plenary meeting of the Grand Chamber of the Constitutional Court," said Kryvenko.
The judge-rapporteur for the case is Viktor Kolisnyk.
In May, 46 deputies appealed the law on de-communization to the Constitutional Court. The initiators of the application were the deputies from the Opposition bloc.
The Verkhovna Rada passed a law condemning communist and Nazi totalitarian regimes on April 9, 2015, banning their propaganda and symbols. The law prohibits the public use of the symbols of such regimes, as well as establishes an obligation to rename settlements, place names, organizations and trademarks.
Under de-communization in Ukraine, more than 1,000 settlements and more than 51,000 streets and squares (as of the end of 2016) were renamed. Additionally, 2,389 monuments and commemorative signs have been dismantled, including 1,320 installed in honor of Lenin.