Parliament extends law on special status of Donbas for one year

The Verkhovna Rada has extended until December 31, 2022 the effect of Article 1 of the Law "On the special order of local self-government in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions."

A total of 317 MPs voted for a respective bill, No.6342, at a parliament meeting on Thursday, December 2, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

The document extends for one year the possibility of the temporary introduction of a special order of local self-government in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, established by Article 1 of the Law of Ukraine "On the special order of local self-government in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions."

According to the explanatory note, the adopted law aims to create additional temporary opportunities for the implementation of respective legislative conditions aimed at ensuring a peaceful settlement of the situation in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, based on the principles and norms of international law and the UN Charter.

The law on the special order of local self-government in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions was adopted in September 2014. It came into force on October 18, 2014 for a period of three years. In October 2017, the law was extended for one year, in October 2018 – until December 31, 2019, and in December 2019 – until December 31, 2020.

On December 15, 2020, the Verkhovna Rada extended until December 31, 2021 the effect of Article 1 of the Law "On the special order of local self-government in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions."