Prayer in Ukrainian Parliament

The deputies of the Party of Regions submitted to parliament a draft law on amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On the Rules of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine” to improve the opening. The document states that "after the opening plenary session in the hall of the Parliament of Ukraine a choir perform a solemn prayer hymn."

Bill № 7478, as the press service of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) reported, was registered in the parliament on December 17.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is the only legislative body whose decisions have a crucial impact on the lives of millions of citizens. Thus raising moral and ethical principles of the parliament is the key to improving the efficiency of its operation," reads a memorandum to the bill.

As was widely reported in the media last week, there was a fight in the Verkhovna Rada. On December 16, the deputies of the BYUT-Batkivschyna faction blocked the parliament's rostrum and demanded that Tymoshenko's political persecution be stopped. In the evening, scores of deputies from the pro-presidential Party of Regions stormed the presidium and, after a fight in which punches and chairs were thrown, opposition deputies were forced out of the parliament hall. Some opposition lawmakers were injured in the scuffle.