Referendums in Ukraine

Referendums in Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Constitution, are one of the lawful forms of expression of people's will.

Referendums are organized by population initiative of no less than 3 million voters. The referendums are designated by either the Parliament or the President. Any change to the territory of Ukraine can be resolved solely by a national referendum.

Referendum of independence, 1991

On December 1, 1991 a referendum, initiated by parliament of Ukraine, took place. On August 26, 1991 the parliament adopted the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine, and the referendum was called with a question: "Do you support the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine". Of registered voters, 84,18% participated in the referendum, and 90,32% of them answered "Yes".

Referendum of Kuchma, 2000

On April 16, 2000 an All-Ukrainian referendum took place, which was called by the President Kuchma upon population initiative. Four questions were brought up:
* On conditions for dissolution of the parliament
* On immunity of a deputy
* On decrease of the number of parliament deputies
* On introduction of two-chamber parliamentThe majority of citizens answered "Yes" on all four questions.
* [http://www.cvk.gov.ua/pls/r001/webproc21r?kodvib=300&rejim=0 Questions of the referendum] (in Ukrainian)
* [http://www.cvk.gov.ua/pls/r001/webproc17r?kodvib=300 Results of the referendum] (in Ukrainian)

Referendums on NATO and Common Economic Space

In December of 2006, the Central Electoral Committee of Ukraine (CVK) recognized as valid more than 3 millions of voter's signatures which were collected in the call for the Referendum on Ukraine joining NATO, and for the Referendum on Ukraine joining Common Economic Space (with Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan). The Committee officially informed the President of Ukraine of their decision. It's expected that the President or the Parliament should schedule the referendums. No money was reserved for the organization of referendums in 2007 State Budget of Ukraine. The signature collection in the call for the referendum was organized by the United Social Democratic Party of Ukraine. [http://www.korrespondent.net/main/174827/]

ee also

*Elections in Ukraine
*Constitution of Ukraine

References

* Pohorilko V.F., Fedorenko V.L., "Referendums in Ukraine: History and Contemporaneity", The Institute of State and Law, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, 2000, 248 pages, (in Ukrainian), ISВN 966-7791-00-9.