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Verkhovna Rada summons Interior Minister over SES employee exemptions; percentage still undetermined

According to BBC Ukraine, reservations for police and rescuers may be cancelled in the near future.

Verkhovna Rada summons Interior Minister over SES employee exemptions; percentage still undetermined
Head of National Police Ihor Klymenko
Photo: Max Trebukhov

The Verkhovna Rada has voted to summon Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko to report on the reservation of employees of the State Emergency Service.

This was reported by MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak on Telegram. According to him, the proposal received 165 votes (with 150 required).

Interior Ministry spokeswoman Maryana Reva told LB.ua that the decision on the percentage of reservations for rescuers and police officers had not yet been made.

‘The decision on the percentage of reservations for rescuers has not yet been made, nor for police officers. We are still discussing it. I can assure you for sure that everyone is interested in ensuring that the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency services does not decrease,’ Reva said.

BBC Ukraine explained that the current legislation provides for reservations for conscripts of the National Police and the State Emergency Service. But, unlike some other civil servants, it does not specify what percentage can have a reservation.

In May, a petition was published on the government's website calling for the rescuers and civil defence workers not to be mobilised. It gained the necessary votes in just a few days.

‘According to the BBC Ukraine, the authorities have already made a decision in principle to remove 100% of the armour from the SES and the National Police and other law enforcement agencies. Now there are only discussions about how many employees of these structures will be mobilised - 10% or, for example, 50%,’ the article says. 

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