On 3 September 2025, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted Law No. 11387 “On Amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, the Criminal Code, and the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine regarding Ensuring Respect for the Court and Timely Consideration of Criminal Proceedings by the Court.” The law was supported by 229 MPs.
Among other provisions, the law establishes administrative liability for officials who fail to appear without valid reasons when summoned by Parliament, its committees, temporary investigative and special commissions. The fine ranges from 800 to 1,000 tax-free minimum incomes of citizens. As of 2025, one tax-free minimum amounts to UAH 17, so fines range from UAH 13,600 to UAH 17,000.
The liability was introduced, in particular, because officials and ministers repeatedly ignored summons from the Verkhovna Rada. For instance, in June 2025, then Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov and Minister of Energy Herman Halushchenko failed to appear when summoned by MPs.
“In our country, a culture of parliamentary oversight has not yet been established, as institutions in Ukraine remain relatively young and immature. Ministers feel obliged to report to the political leadership rather than to Parliament as an important branch of power. This must be changed, and administrative liability for failure to appear is one of the effective steps towards building such a culture,” noted NAKO Executive Director Olena Tregub.
Photo by Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
