This year, the Ukrainian Fundamental Law turns 30. On June 28, 1996, our state adopted a document of the highest legal force – the legal foundation on which all national legislation is based.
This document recorded the fundamental values and principles of Ukrainian society, in particular:
- The division and procedure for the functioning of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of power;
- Sovereign state system;
- Fundamental rights and obligations of the state, citizens and society;
- Democratic electoral system;
- Independence and inviolability of the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
The history of the Constitution of Ukraine began back in 1710 with the creation of the “Pacts and Constitutions of the Rights and Freedoms of the Zaporizhzhia Army” by Pylyp Orlyk. This unique document entered world history as one of the first constitutions. Its progressiveness consisted in the division of power into three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. At the same time, the powers of the hetman were limited, and the key emphasis was shifted to the protection of the rights and freedoms of the Cossacks.
The second, progressive Constitution for its time, was adopted by the Central Council of the UNR in 1918 under the leadership of Mykhailo Hrushevsky. However, due to the German invasion and the changing political situation, this document never came into force.
During 1990–1996, about 15 drafts of the Constitution were considered. The session of the Verkhovna Rada, at which the text of the current Constitution was adopted, lasted a whole day. On June 28, 1996, at 9:18 a.m., a vote was held, during which the Fundamental Law of Ukraine came into force, which introduced strong presidential power, private property, state symbols, the status of the Ukrainian language as the only state language, and the autonomy of Crimea within Ukraine.
Today, the Constitution firmly establishes the sovereignty of Ukraine over its entire territory and defines its protection as the duty of every citizen and the cause of the entire people. The Fundamental Law of Ukraine protects the rights of millions of Ukrainians who are fighting for freedom, ensures the rights of internally displaced persons. The Fundamental Law also fixes our strategic course towards membership in the EU and NATO. It is this conscious Euro-Atlantic choice that guarantees Ukraine powerful support from Western partners in confronting Russian aggression.
We are sincerely proud of the Ukrainian democratic system, our independence and statehood.
We congratulate everyone on this important holiday for all of us and on this occasion, we announce wonderful news. Throughout the summer, our Museum will exhibit works of art by talented artists from Ukraine, Israel and European countries, in particular - the creative works of Ivan Marchuk, Moshe Matusovsky, Zdislav Lahur and others.
Help by phone: +38 050 452 21 63.
We will be glad to see you in our Museum.!