A bill on military advisors to lawmakers has been introduced in the Rada: what it proposes
Bill No. 15285 has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada, proposing the creation of a new institution: military advisors to members of the Ukrainian parliament. The initiative aims to involve active-duty military personnel in the development of legislative decisions in the areas of national security, defense, intelligence, and parliamentary oversight of law enforcement agencies.
The authors of the document emphasize that in the context of a full-scale war, the practical experience of military personnel should help parliament make more effective decisions and take into account the real needs of the security and defense sector.
The bill provides for amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On the Status of a People’s Deputy of Ukraine” and the introduction of a new article on military advisors.
The right to engage such specialists will be granted to deputies serving on Verkhovna Rada committees on national security, defense, and intelligence, as well as on parliamentary oversight of law enforcement agencies and special services.
Each of these parliamentarians will be able to have up to two military advisers.
According to the bill, a military advisor may be a commissioned officer or a person with at least five years of military service.
The MP will independently determine the candidate for advisor, their functions, and the term of office, which may not exceed the term of the MP’s mandate.
One of the key innovations of the document is the possibility of seconding military personnel to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
To do this, the deputy will send an official request to the heads of the relevant military units or security and defense agencies. The bill stipulates that such a request must be reviewed within five days and is binding.
After being seconded, the military personnel will continue to serve but will perform the duties of an advisor in parliament.
The document provides for a number of social and employment guarantees for military personnel who will serve as advisors to deputies.
In particular, upon completion of their assignment, they will return to their previous position or another position of equal or higher rank; their period of service in the Verkhovna Rada will count toward their years of service; and the conferral of subsequent military ranks will be carried out in the usual manner.
The maximum military rank for such a position is proposed to be set at the level of colonel or captain 1st rank.
The bill specifies a list of officials who cannot serve as military advisors to members of parliament.
These include the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Chief of the General Staff, heads of intelligence agencies, the commander of the National Guard, and other leaders of the security and defense sector and their deputies.
To implement the new system, the authors propose amending a number of laws, including:
- “On the Security Service of Ukraine”;
- “On Military Duty and Military Service”;
- “On Intelligence”;
- “On the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine”;
- “On State Protection of Ukrainian Government Bodies and Officials”;
- “On the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine”;
- “On the National Guard of Ukraine.”
One of the most debated provisions of the bill may be the rule stating that a member of parliament’s request to second a military officer is binding.
Experts note that if the bill is adopted, questions may arise regarding the balance between the personnel needs of military units and the involvement of officers in the work of the Verkhovna Rada.
At the same time, the authors of the initiative are convinced that involving military personnel with combat and management experience will help improve the quality of legislative work and make decisions in the defense sector more practical and effective.
