Ukraine’s parliament work blocked by MPs protesting political repression

This was reported by Espreso correspondent Kateryna Halko.

Earlier, MPs Yaroslav Zheleznyak, Oleksiy Honcharenko, and Iryna Herashchenko also shared information about the podium blockade.

"The Rada session opened. The European Solidarity faction went to the podium with posters. The Rada session closed. Just a few minutes passed," Honcharenko wrote.

According to their posts, the MPs approached the podium with posters reading: "Ukraine is not Russia," "No to political repression," "No to dictatorship," and "Think about victory, not about elections." They also chanted: "Shame!"

"How much you're willing to do to save the skin of one person! This is horror, shame!" said Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk.

In response, voices from the hall shouted: "We're willing to do this much for democracy in the country!"

Afterward, Stefanchuk announced a break in the Verkhovna Rada session.

"I hereby declare a break in the Verkhovna Rada session! Thank you, colleagues!" said Stefanchuk.

MP Iryna Herashchenko claimed that Speaker Stefanchuk "ran away" after being asked whether he supported sanctions against former President Petro Poroshenko.

Representatives of "European Solidarity" comment on the situation

"It is absolutely unconstitutional to impose sanctions on your own citizens. There can't be a parliament where the opposition leader is thrown out or the opposition is silenced... Ukraine is in a really difficult situation. The worst thing we heard yesterday is about Ukraine losing its international subjectivity. They're discussing Ukraine without Ukraine. To maintain our international presence, we need unity here at home. The world needs to see that we are one people... united in defending Ukrainian national interests," said MP Volodymyr Viatrovych.

Artur Herasymov, co-chair of the "European Solidarity" faction, also spoke up.

"European Solidarity is the only opposition faction in parliament today. We are the only ones not afraid of Zelenskyy. We stand united against dictatorship, authoritarianism, and capitulation. We showed this in 2019 when they tried to surrender us in Paris, and we're showing it now," he said.

MP Iryna Herashchenko added, "Zelenskyy's decision today pushes Ukraine away from our long-standing goal — EU membership. It gives skeptics more arguments that our country doesn't meet democratic standards."

"European Solidarity" also set conditions for unblocking the podium: removing the former Opposition Platform – For Life party from the Verkhovna Rada hall, canceling the decision to buy reactors for the Khmelnytskyi NPP, putting the "EU" bill on banning Russian oil transportation to a vote, and transferring military personal income tax to the brigades.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy enacted the National Security and Defense Council's decision to impose sanctions on former President Petro Poroshenko.