More than 50 MPs oppose government resolution to cut defence industry deferrals to 85%

On 15 October, MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak registered a draft parliamentary resolution proposing to overturn the Cabinet’s decision on changes to the rules on deferral from mobilisation. According to its initiator, more than 50 MPs have already signed the document.

The government resolution of 13 October proposes several changes to the deferral rules, including cutting the quota for employees of critical defence companies from 100% to 85%. Zhelezniak stresses that the decision was taken without consulting business and will cause companies to lose people.

“These changes were proposed despite the legislation we passed here,” Zhelezniak writes. “None of the MPs knew about these changes.”

The draft resolution proposes to:

• overturn the Cabinet’s decision of 13 October;
• abandon the creation of a Coordination Centre for the organisation of deferrals, whose “emergence is legally questionable and creates additional corruption risks”;
• resume consultations on adjusting the deferral rules with the Verkhovna Rada, primarily with its relevant committee;
• hold additional consultations with business and the organisations representing the defence industry, the fuel and energy sector, housing and utilities, and communications;
• ensure maximum deferrals for sectors that are critically important for sustaining the state’s vital functions.

Tomorrow, MPs expect the prime minister and other government members to appear in parliament. Zhelezniak hopes the resolution will have gathered more than a hundred MPs’ signatures by then.