Razumkov says did not discuss with Zelensky own stepdown prospects

The chairman of the Verkhovna Rada elaborated on the issue in an interview with the Ukrayinska Pravda online newspaper, Ukrinform reports.

"The Verkhovna Rada elects its Chairman, First Deputy Speaker, and Deputy Speaker – in this case, Olena Kondratiuk. Once again, it’s the Verkhovna Rada that elects. It’s the Verkhovna Rada that can also recall them. Whether anyone will, let’s say, initiate the process from the outside, is a whole different story. Whether the president will do it, I think he would be able to better answer this question. I never discussed this with him," Razumkov said.

The Rada chairman has noted that currently there are no formal grounds for him to be dismissed from the top parliament post and no one has applied for the relevant signature forms required to initiate such protocol.

"You are well aware that the issue has been discussed for nearly 18 months already. Moreover, this has all been happening in the format of sideline talk," Razumkov said.

At the same time, he opined that rumors of his possible resignation could now be circulated after he submitted the new “oligarch bill” (No.5999) for consideration by the Venice Commission ahead of second reading.

"But if we look at it today, the president fully supports it. He recently had a virtual meeting with Mr. Buquicchio (Gianni Buquicchio, chairman of the Venice Commission - ed.)… I don't see any issues with that and I think he did the right thing. I had been approached by all opposition factions and the Commissioner for Human Rights. It is good that now the president supports the initiative to have the said bill reviewed by the Venice Commission," Razumkov added.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, reports had been circulating for the past few months claiming Razumkov’s dismissal was in the works, while Razumkov said he would not be holding on to his seat if deputies decided to recall him.

After the Verkhovna Rada passed at first reading Draft Law “On Prevention of Threats to National Security Related to Excessive Influence of Persons of Major Economic or Political Significance in Public Life (Oligarchs)” (No. 5599), Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova called on Dmytro Razumkov to forward the draft to the Venice Commission, believing it may contradict Constitutional provisions. Four opposition parliamentary factions addressed the speaker with a similar motion.

On September 10, Razumkov sent the bill for examination to the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission).

On September 23, 2021, the Verkhovna Rada passed the said bill at second reading, considering it article by article, that is, applying a special procedure laid down in Article 119 of the Rules of Procedure.

At the same time, it turned out that three contradictory amendments were also voted in. The Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence has recommended that the parliament re-vote the bill over the said conflicting amendments.

The parliament then registered 12 draft resolutions repealing the Rada decision to adopt the oligarch law at second reading.

im