Constitution of Ukraine: voting in the Verkhovna Rada part 1

The video shows the discussion and voting for the Constitution of Ukraine.

June 25, 1996. MPs at discussions in factions and commissions. Vyacheslav Chornovil says that it is important for everyone to be in the hall and participate in the voting, as well as the importance of adopting the entire agreed text of the Constitution as a whole.

June 26-27-28. Session hall. Speeches by MPs. Disputes over the article on the Ukrainian language as the only state language. Leonid Kravchuk makes a proposal to consolidate the status of the Russian language and the languages of other national minorities. Disputes over state symbols and the status of Crimea. President Leonid Kuchma in the hall. Voting in the second and third readings. The decision is made.

Also on the video are speeches by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Moroz and President Leonid Kuchma. The square in front of the Verkhovna Rada. People's deputies give interviews. Celebrations are taking place.

Video from the personal archive of Yaroslav Kendzior.

For reference: the basic law of Ukraine was developed over six years. At the time, Ukraine was the last country in the former Soviet Union that did not yet have its own constitution. The reason for the long discussion and adoption was the contradictions between the two parliamentary forces, the Democrats and the Communists.

The Constitution was finally adopted on the morning of June 28, 1996. "315 MPs voted in favor of the adoption of the Constitution of Ukraine, 12 abstained, and 36 were against. Another 30 MPs refused to vote.

That was the first time the Ukrainian anthem was played in the Verkhovna Rada. The MPs solemnly brought the blue and yellow flag into the hall as an approved state symbol.