Prosecutors call for reversal of Lviv region council decision to set up self-defense brigade
LVIV. Feb 13 (Interfax) - Prosecutors in Lviv region have filed a lawsuit with the Lviv District Administrative Court asking it to reverse the decision by the Lviv Regional Council of February 11, titled "On the formation of a Lviv Regional Council communal enterprise 'Municipal brigade - people's self-defense'."
The decision was made in violation of article 19 of the Ukrainian Constitution and the existing laws, a spokesperson for the Lviv Regional Prosecutor's Office said. The existing laws do not allow for communal enterprises (CEs) to be formed by local governing bodies with the aim of maintaining public order and public safety, prosecutors said.
Furthermore, the purpose of forming such a CE is inconsistent with the provisions of Ukrainian law "On security services" because security services involve the provision of services to protect individuals and property and therefore do not involve CE services such as maintenance of public order and public safety.
The draft resolution was put on the agenda with violations of the established procedure: the draft was not registered and countersigned in due time, nor was it discussed by Lviv Regional Council commissions, prosecutors also said. The court must recognize the inclusion of this matter in the session's agenda as illegitimate, they said.
On February 11 the Lviv Regional Council decided to rename Lvivelektromashoptorg into communal enterprise Municipal Brigade - People's Self-Defense. The draft resolution was favored by 71 deputies.
